Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea has requested a trade, a league source confirmed. Vea is under contract for the 2026 season and is scheduled to make up to $18 million if he can play all 17 games in the final year of his current contract.
Contract Dispute
Vea wants more money and points to the fact he is currently the 19th-highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the league. He believes he is much better than the 19th-best defensive lineman in the league.
Vea is the structural centerpiece of the Tampa Bay defense. He is arguably the team’s best run defender and provides a rare combination of size, power, and movement to control the middle of the formation from his nose tackle spot.
Since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, he has helped the Buccaneers establish one of the NFL’s most consistently productive run defenses. Vea played only five games in 2020 due to a fractured ankle, but he’s proven durable ever since, starting 78 games in the past five seasons.
Impact on the Team
This trade request creates issues for the Bucs. Vea might decide to simply hold in to start training camp – that is to say, he shows up but doesn’t practice. The Buccaneers are already managing the high-stakes contract negotiations with quarterback Baker Mayfield as their top contract issue.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
