The Buccaneers may be moving closer to a resolution of defensive tackle Vita Vea‘s contract situation and trade request.
The 31-year-old sought an exit from Tampa Bay at the beginning of training camp after reaching an impasses in contract negotiations with the team. The defensive tackle market exploded this offseason, starting with Jeffery Simmons‘ $35.3MM extension in June. Vea was looking to capitalize on that deal, and his stance was only solidified after Jalen Carter and Quinnen Williams signed for more money in the last month.
But the Buccaneers have been unwilling to meet his demands, which likely include a substantial increase from his current $17.8MM AAV and $18MM in cash due this year. The 6-foot-4, 347-pounder has long been one of the NFL’s most impactful defensive linemen, but his age and drop in production last year may limit his earning potential.
Other teams have reached out to the Buccaneers about Vea, but they have rebuffed such interest. Instead, they are determined to keep Vea in Tampa Bay for at least one more year, and he may be coming to terms with that reality.
“It feels like we’ve gone from Vita Vea wanting a trade to Vita Vea now wanting to try to get a deal done,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show. “I think eventually the two sides figure it out. I think they get something done, and I think Vita Vea stays in Tampa.”
Vea has not participated in Buccaneers training camp this summer. He tweaked his back during conditioning when camp opened, but two weeks later, it is evident he is sitting out due to his contract situation. Vea’s hold-in is expected to continue until his deal is addressed, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, but communication lines between him and the front office have remained open.
If Tampa Bay has truly made up their mind about not moving Vea, he does not have much of a choice but to lower his asking price. Players rarely hold out into the regular season, and those that do almost never receive the contracts they desire. Vea could even consider taking a pay raise for the 2026 season with the hopes of playing himself into an even bigger deal next year.
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