David Veikune DE/OLB, Hawaii
6'2", 257
Height and Weight: 6'2", 257
Combine Results
- 40 Yard Dash: 4.79
- 20 Yard Split: 2.81
- 10 Yard Split: 1.58
- Bench Press: 35
- Vertical Jump: 33
- Broad Jump: 9'2"
- 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.46
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.20
Positives: Veikume makes his living with a non-stop motor and endless hustle. He's plays faster than he times and has the explosive first step to get around some larger tackles. He's got very good strength for his size and uses his hands well to shed blocks when fresh. He does have experience playing with his hand off the ground and was asked to drop back into zones or cover the flats on a limited basis.
Negatives: He's not really a great athlete and what speed he does have might be neutralized at the pro level. Despite his strength, he doesn't perform well against the run and can really get engulfed by blockers late in games. He'll also have to develop a better repertoire of pass rush moves and improve his balance become a true player at the next level.
Overview: Veikume is a natural pass rusher but most scouts don't know if he's athletic enough to play in the NFL. He had a great week at the Senior Bowl going up against some of the best OT's in this year's class, which really helped his stock. He lined up all over the place at Hawaii, including DE, DT and OLB, so he's got some versatility and his production over the past two years (25 tackles for loss and 16 sacks) is impressive for a school that doesn't put much emphasis on defense. He's still very much a project, but a team looking for a pass rushing DE/OLB in the middle rounds could do worse.
Projected Round: Middle of the 3rd to late 4th round
Why the Cardinals should take a chance on him: Veikume and Travis LaBoy could team up for the Hawaiian based pass rush duo in the league. Seriously though, Veikume is low risk pick in the middle rounds and could really benefit for a year or two under strength and conditioning coach John Lott. He'd probably be limited to special teams as rookie while he works on improving his overall game. In a year or two he could be ready to become at worst a situational pass rusher similar to Bertrand Berry right now or at best a starting OLB.