Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Vita Vea Hard To Pry Loose Despite Thin Defensive Tackle Market
TAMPA, Fla. — With defensive tackles in short supply around the league, some teams believe they could take a shot at Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea. A deal will be tough to complete before Tuesday’s 3 p.m. CT deadline, The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones reported Saturday.
Jones wrote that he does not think Tampa Bay would turn down a first-round pick for the 31-year-old. He also does not think any team will offer one.
Last week, the Washington Commanders lost their own trade chip at the position when Daron Payne broke his left foot in practice. The Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants are among the teams looking for interior help.
Vita Vea Wanted To Stay After Summer Trade Request
Vea requested a trade on July 27 after multiple failed attempts at finalizing an extension. His agent, Collin Roberts, told the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud in early August that he did not see it ending in anything but a trade.
General manager Jason Licht gave the opposite answer after practice the next day.
“I have no plans on trading Vita,” Licht said. “We love Vita. We’ve been engaged with his agent recently. I don’t know how it’s gonna end, but we’ve been engaged and that’s at least some progress.”
On Aug. 19, Vea agreed to a one-year, $30 million extension, ending a training camp hold-in. The deal added $6 million in new money for 2026. All $30 million is fully guaranteed through the 2027 season, Bay News 9 reported.
Vea said the next day that he had always been optimistic a deal would get done.
“I got drafted here. I made Tampa my home. I love it here,” Vea said. “The guys on the team are like brothers to me. We look at each other as family. So, I didn’t want to leave that behind and switch teams and get traded. That was never the end goal for me. I always wanted to be here.”
Vea has spent his entire career in Tampa Bay since the Buccaneers drafted him 12th overall out of Washington in 2018. That stretch includes the Super Bowl LV title and Pro Bowl selections following the 2021 and 2024 seasons. In 17 games last season, he recorded 34 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Buccaneers Sit A Half-Game Out Of NFC South Lead
Tampa Bay has historically stayed quiet at the deadline under Licht, and a decision like trading a franchise pillar must be approved by multiple owners.
At 3-5, Tampa Bay sits a half-game behind the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South. The Buccaneers hold early tiebreakers over Carolina and the Atlanta Falcons, according to Jones. Tampa Bay has won five straight division titles.
On Sunday Night Football, the Buccaneers play at the Chicago Bears.
