Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea requests trade amid contract extension attempts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea has formally requested a trade following unsuccessful attempts at securing a contract extension. The request comes as Vea is set to enter the final year of his current contract.
Vea, who is 31, is under contract for the 2026 season and is scheduled to earn $17 million in base salary during that year. His current contract extension, signed in January 2022, was valued at $71 million. His annual average salary of $17.75 million places him 19th among defensive tackles in the league.
Despite the trade request, Vea attended the team’s mandatory minicamp, though he did not participate in drills. He is also expected to attend training camp to avoid potential fines, but he could choose to hold in, meaning he would be present but not practice.
Contract Dispute and Performance
The decision to request a trade stems from frustration over contract discussions, with Vea reportedly feeling that his current compensation does not reflect his value. He is currently the 19th-highest-paid interior defensive lineman, a ranking he believes is too low given his performance.
Vea has been a significant force for the Buccaneers defense since being selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Over 112 career games, he has accumulated 256 tackles, 35 sacks, and 79 quarterback hits. He is a two-time Pro Bowler, earning selections after the 2021 and 2024 seasons, and was a key member of the Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl LV.
Since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, Vea has been instrumental in the Buccaneers’ strong run defense. From 2019 through most of the 2024 season, Tampa Bay ranked first in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game at 94.1 and first in yards allowed per carry at 4.0. The team finished in the top five against the run in five of six seasons during this period, including No. 1 finishes in 2019 and 2020.
Vea’s individual production highlights his impact beyond a traditional nose tackle role. He set a career high with seven sacks in 2024 and followed that with 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits in 2025. His 2024 pass-rush performance made Tampa Bay one of only three teams that season with two defensive tackles recording at least seven sacks, alongside Calijah Kancey.
Potential Landing Spots
While a trade is not guaranteed, reports indicate that Vea has preferred landing spots in mind. According to NFL analyst Ted Nguyen, Vea is looking to join a team located in California or the Las Vegas Raiders. This list of preferred destinations includes the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Chargers, in addition to the Raiders.
The San Francisco 49ers, who have recently invested in their defensive front by trading for Osa Odighizuwa and drafting Romello Height, are reportedly high on Vea’s list. Vea played college football at Washington from 2014-17, where he earned All-Pac-12 honors twice and was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite his age and having only one year left on his contract, Vea is considered one of the top interior defensive linemen in the league. His current cap hit is $22.19 million. The Buccaneers are also managing other high-stakes contract negotiations, including those with quarterback Baker Mayfield, making Vea’s trade request an additional challenge for the team.
Source: nbcsports.com
