Just as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were getting ready to roll out the welcome mats for training camp, their biggest defensive star decided he might want to pack his bags instead.
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea has officially requested a trade out of Tampa Bay. According to his agent, Collin Roberts, who broke the news on Monday, the decision comes after talks regarding a contract extension hit a brick wall.
The warning signs were there. Last month, the 31-year-old staged a “hold-in” during the team’s mandatory minicamp. At the time, head coach Todd Bowles brushed off the absence, calmly calling it “part of the business.” Well, it looks like the price of doing business just went up.
At the center of the drama is a classic NFL money crunch. Vea is heading into the final season of his four-year, $71 million contract. While he is scheduled to make a hefty $17 million this season, along with up to $1 million in per-game roster bonuses, absolutely none of that base salary is guaranteed.
It’s easy to see why Vea wants long-term security. Since being drafted 12th overall by the Bucs in the 2018 NFL draft, he has been an absolute force in the trenches. Over his eight-year career, he has racked up 35 sacks and earned Pro Bowl nods in 2021 and 2024. Last season, the big man didn’t miss a beat, starting all 17 games while tallying 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and 34 tackles.
Interestingly, Vea isn’t the only Buccaneer looking for a payday before the season kicks off. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is entering the final year of his three-year, $100 million deal and is also hunting for an extension. However, Mayfield took a different approach by fully participating in minicamp. The QB did note last month that his own negotiations weren’t “anywhere close” to being finished, drawing a hard line that he won’t discuss contracts once training camp gets underway.
With veteran players scheduled to report to camp on Tuesday, the clock is ticking for the Buccaneers front office. Will they open their checkbook to keep their star defensive tackle, or will Vita Vea be anchoring a new defense this fall?
