Is Vita Vea A Hold-In?
June 16th, 2026
Frustrated with contract?
It may not be Operation Shutdown but it seems Bucs manbeast defensive tackle Vita Vea is not comfortable with his current contract situation.
That’s the word from Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Appearing on “The Insiders” tonight, seen weeknights on NFL Network, Garafolo claims Vea not participating in mandatory minicamp this morning at One Buc Palace is, in some way, contract-related.
“My understanding is the contract is playing into this,” Garafolo said. “Again, from my understanding, sources have told me that the fact that he is in the final year of his deal, hasn’t gotten an extension to his point, is part of the reason that he is not participating.”
Vea, like Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, is entering the final year of his contract.
When asked about why Vea was not practicing this morning, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Vea was healthy and there was no big deal because the Bucs don’t need Vea on the field in June.
“We don’t need to see him right now,” Bowles said. Bowles did not mention Vea’s non-participation had anything to do with his contract.
Garafolo hinted that Vea is currently well underpaid. Per Spotrac, Vea’s average annual salary for 2026 is $17.75 million. That’s not even in the top-eight of salaries for defensive tackles, again per Spotrac.
Chris Jones, Chiefs $31.75 million.
Milton Williams, Patriots $26 million.
Zach Allen, Broncos $25.5 million.
Nnamdi Madubuike, Crows $24.5 million.
Alim McNeill, Lions $24.25 million.
Derrick Brown, Panthers $24 million.
Quinnen Williams, Cowboys $24 million.
Jeffery Simmons, Titans $23.5 million.
“This is well above where Vea is under the last year of his contract, which was signed over four years ago,” Garafolo said.
As Joe stated above, this isn’t exactly Operation Shutdown. But it sure smells like Vea is in the middle of a sit-in.
From The Insiders on @nflnetwork: #Buccaneers DT Vita Vea wasn’t practicing at minicamp today and hasn’t been for OTAs in the spring. I’m told it’s related to the two-time Pro Bowler’s contract, as Vea is entering the final year of his deal from 4+ years ago. pic.twitter.com/KMd1MzQAid
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 17, 2026
June 16th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
Well if there is no Vita you can kiss this season goodbye along with Bowles job.
June 16th, 2026 at 8:55 pm
Good point.
June 16th, 2026 at 9:14 pm
He wasn’t underpaid when he signed that giant deal.
That’s the point of teams doing longer term deals, they get value on the backend. It’s why I said to sign Evans for a lot more than 2 years a couple of years ago, because people whining about $20M being a lot of money are clueless to where contracts are going. And sure enough, now guys who have career years of 620 yards are getting nearly $30M a season.
Anywho, for Vita, I’d lock him on a new deal. Unlike Baker, we know exactly what we’re getting, and I think he’ll continue to be a top player for another 3 or 4 years, before falling back a bit where maybe he becomes more of a 2-down top flight run stuffer. He just seems like a guy who will play for a long time still.
But if he’s not going to be a long term part of the team, trade him. You’ll get a big return for him, and there’s literally no reason to just keep him around for one year to let him walk.
June 16th, 2026 at 9:17 pm
Now this is something that could ruin the season.
If Baker will play on contract but not Vita, maybe a trade who knows.
If another team wants to pay him and we can get a 1st why not?
Especially with next years QB draft.
June 16th, 2026 at 9:28 pm
Vita isn’t a top 8 D linemen. He’s very overrated. 7 sacks in one season is his best season. Don’t give me the bs he helps over DL and LB make the sacks/plays cause this defense has been horrible year in and year out
June 16th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
Chris Says:
June 16th, 2026 at 9:28 pm
Vita isn’t a top 8 D linemen. He’s very overrated. 7 sacks in one season is his best season. Don’t give me the bs he helps over DL and LB make the sacks/plays cause this defense has been horrible year in and year out
——–
Top 8 defensive lineman? You mean vs all lineman? He’s a 3-4 NT and you think he should have the same sack numbers as a 4-3 DT or 4-3 DE?
Man, talk about clueless and having no idea what you’re watching.
But no, is he one of the 7 or 8 best defensive lineman in the entire NFL? Is he one of the top 3 best NT’s in the NFL? Yes. Would he be top 8 if you’re talking DT’s and NT’s? Probably. Of course that’s all over your head since you don’t even know the basics.
June 16th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
If not injured, Vita plays maybe 60-70% percent of the plays. He’s never in top shape to be a 3 down player.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:04 pm
LOL! Now the Baker Boi(s), fresh off telling us that Mike Evans was never very good, are now telling us that Vita isn’t that good, because they’re worried he might get a contract extension and Baker may not.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
Way to go Rod!
A great post and I agree with most of it.
Not sure about locking him up. I wouldn’t do more than 3 for 60 I don’t think.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:15 pm
Licht is about to run off another SB champion. He’s getting really good at that.
Hopefully he’s another turd circling the drain when we finally flush the Toilet Bowles.
Take Brady out of the equation and they’d both be gone years ago.
Even BA was hot garbage until he was gifted TB12.
Then Bowles torpedoed our title defense. McVay owns him.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Joe Stalin is at it again. Posts are disappearing like political prisoners.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:36 pm
RuhRoh…..What if this starts a domino effect ?
June 16th, 2026 at 10:47 pm
This could REAL UGLY. For Vea. The Bucs need to hold their ground. These situations rarely EVER workout for an aging player period, especially not for a DT. At his age if he decides to ‘sit-out’ the entire season (which he won’t), then he’ll NEVER be able to recoup his LOST $17-MIL that is owed to him NOW. He just won’t have enough time left to do so. And, the Bucs can move him at the deadline, as a rental to a contender. When they are 2-6 or 3-5. The Bucs need to stick to their guns, or just add another year, while ‘guaranteeing’ him a nice little chunk for this one.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:52 pm
With that said, I don’t blame HIM for sitting-in. It’s the right move for HIM at this point of his career, with not having any guaranteed money. I wouldn’t want to risk anything either, over a practice.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:56 pm
Should’ve taken BIG Deone Walker.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:56 pm
Another guy with a big reputation that must win WITHOUT Brady or he was just a good piece of a once great team. Just like LVD, Winfield… and yes, Evans. Whole lotta guys still living off 2020 and 2021.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:57 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t salaries, on average, go up every year, coinciding with the increase in salary cap?
All eight players listed in this article signed their contracts years after Vea did, some as recently as this year.
June 16th, 2026 at 11:03 pm
LOL Love the (inaccurate) analogy. 🙂
June 16th, 2026 at 11:14 pm
Mike played all those seasons under team-friendly contracts, and everyone wants to BASH HIM. But, I am NOT hearing the first word from ANY of the Baker Bois, who falsely pushed this entire narrative that Baker just loves ball, and will take a “DISCOUNT” to play HERE. Because, HE LOVES Tampa Bay SO MUCH. Instead, they’re ALL screaming for the Bucs to break the bank. No matter what, at all cost. So, why are they not demanding that Baker just sign the deal then!?
June 16th, 2026 at 11:20 pm
Other than Jones, all of those guys are farrrr YOUNGER, and some of them play more like, as a type of ‘hybrid’ DE. And, even with the Jones Deal with KC, they gave themselves basically an ‘opt-out’ clause only after 3-years. So, it really wasn’t a true 5-year deal, when they extended him.
June 16th, 2026 at 11:27 pm
Vea knows he’s primed to be trade-deadline meat, too!
June 16th, 2026 at 11:38 pm
Oh no… I just saw on the front page of the NY Post that a former 1st round pick pick of the Buccaneers is retiring from the NFL at only 27 years old.
I was thinking, who do the Bucs have that is 27…
Then, I took the bait, click the story… it’s JTS.
I guess saying you’re going to retire is one way of spinning that no one is calling to invite you to camp.