Adam Schefter: Bucs Trading Vita Vea “Certainly A Possibility”
August 5th, 2026
“Hey Kancey, what does Adam Schefter consider summer?”
ESPN uber NFL insider Adam Schefter isn’t optimistic that Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea will renege on his trade demand and suit up for the Bucs any time soon.
In fact, Schefter said, while appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show” yesterday, he doesn’t think the Bucs shipping Vea out is off the table.
“I think that that’s certainly a possibility,” Schefter said of a Vea trade. “The Buccaneers want to keep him, and they say they’re not interested in trading him, and that’s the way a lot of teams talk about a lot of players that they value and want to keep.
“But the fact of the matter is, Vita Vea is very unhappy. He’s already asked for that trade; I don’t see this situation changing anytime soon. He’s in the last year of a deal that’s scheduled to pay him $18 million dollars when the defensive tackle market has been reset. He feels like they haven’t treated him the right way.”
If the Bucs do trade Vea, Schefter said it might happen at the end of the summer.
Joe was told Bucs coach Todd Bowles thinks fall is summer, so what does Schefter consider summer? Does summer end like many people believe on Labor Day Weekend or does Schefter mean the official end of summer, Sept. 22?
“He wants to be traded,” Schefter said of Vea. “And even though Tampa has said we don’t want to trade him, I think this could evolve to where later in the summer it wouldn’t surprise me if [the Bucs’] stance changes if Vida continues to be dug in, and I think he will be dug in.
“So that’s why I think that that possibility later on becomes possible.”
Joe believes Vea is way underpaid. So Joe sort of leans with Vea here. It’s possible that the Bucs’ internal grades aren’t as high on the 31-year old Vea as talking heads may grade him.
Joe is just depressed over this because Joe is drooling at the thought of Rueben Bain and Vea wrecking people’s Sundays.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:08 am
@Vea
Professionalism means honoring your word Sir, especially when millions of dollars are involved. The market changes every year, that doesn’t erase the contract you willingly signed. Finish the season, earn your next deal, and let your play do the talking. That’s how respected veterans handle business.
🔥 LFG!
August 5th, 2026 at 7:09 am
To me this would be a huge blow to the defense and I feel like we have wasted some of Vea’s prime years with little to no pass rush help. This year could change that with Bain, Walker, Diaby, and we added a thumper in the middle with Trotter. Seems to me it would be a waste if we are truly a deep playoff caliber of team. My opinion he is our most dominant defensive player and has been our best pass rusher at times, which should not be the case. He is vastly underpaid at his level which is our own fault but we have no idea how they value him inside One Buc. I just don’t see Robinson, Nacho, and co holding up in the heat while taking that many snaps at their age. We will attack this by committee but the committee as whole isn’t as talented as Vita.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:13 am
You don’t see Robinson holding up in the heat while taking that many snaps at his age??? He is the same age as vea!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 7:17 am
Joe is just depressed over this because Joe is drooling at the thought of Rueben Bain and Vea wrecking people’s Sundays.
I think Alfred Collins could be just as helpful!!! As the season went on
August 5th, 2026 at 7:18 am
Is that “nagging injury” still nagging? Amazing.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:20 am
“If the Bucs do trade Vea, Schefter said it might happen at the end of the summer.”
I agree – if the Bucs trade Vea his value will skyrocket as soon as a few D-lineman go down in preseason and a contender gets desperate.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:25 am
It’ll take more than just Robinson to replace Vea. There are some interesting young DTs on the team who will also have to step up. In one aspect I think the Bucs like the way Robinson leads over Vea. Vea is not that Sapp type leader willing to punch his own teammate for loafing. Trading Vea would free ARob up to be more of a leader. So I think it’s time to part ways with the big guy, trade him now. His value will never be higher.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Having “contracts” in the NFL is basically becoming meaningless
I think Vea is slightly underpaid, but not “way”. Especially when not comparing him to pass rushing DT’s like Simmons or players with a lot less wear and younger.
Baker might be “all ball”, but Vea is definitely “all money”. I think this has been bad optics for Vea’s case specifically. At least he hasn’t publicly thrown darts like Baker yet, but there’s plenty of time for that day to happen still if he doesn’t get what he wants.
I at least applaud Baker for putting team first and still being out there with the boys getting ready for the season and not nursing a money-saving “tweak” in his back.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:51 am
With or without a new coach. The bucs are not a superbowl team, so if you can get picks with a vea trade, and more picks later with a Tag and Trade with Mayfield then do it. Then when the time comes, and you actually build a decent team instead of guys like morrison with paper hamstrings, and guys like kancey who is often hurt.
The bucs are not one coach away from being superbowl contenders. The bucs are great players away from SB contenders. The bucs went from dirk koetter to Bruce Arians just to go 9-7 in year 1. They actually didnt become real contenders until they got guys like Brady, Antonio, Gronk. Hell Vita Vea didnt even play until the bucs were in the NFC championship game. Let him go
August 5th, 2026 at 7:57 am
They’re not trading Vea
Bucs are probably reworking contract(s) to provide cap space for a Vea extension.
If Bucs were in rebuilding mode now, they wouldn’t have signed the Free Agents they signed and they wouldn’t have offered Evans a large contract.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:01 am
I agree with @notagoodlook that contracts have become meaningless. One or two schmucks finagle crazy deals and suddenly everybody wants to rework their contracts. Fine. Then teams should be able to cancel guaranteed money for loafers. If we are going to cancel the meaning of contracts that should go both ways. Get Hurt? Play like crap? Recind your guarantees.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:03 am
Just took a quick trip over to the Bucs official team website where VV is listed as a NT…not a DT. Trade him while he has some value. He doesn’t want to be in Tampa, he’s 31 years old, doesn’t play every snap and now he’s “hurt.” Trade him.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:05 am
@alanbucsfan, I think we have already reworked every contract that we can. Not sure but think so.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:06 am
This Bucs fan would be devastated to never see Vita and Bain on the field together
August 5th, 2026 at 8:10 am
If things had not happened the way they have I wouldn’t be thinking of trading him but… the longer the idea is open for consideration the more it becomes a possibility in my mind.
Take a second round pick and Move On .Bucs
August 5th, 2026 at 8:11 am
“Just took a quick trip over to the Bucs official team website where VV is listed as a NT…not a DT”
Ya’ll are telling on yourselves lol
If you’re a grown man, who’s been watching this game for years and you have to wait until 2026 to ask “is a defensive tackle a nose tackle too?”
You don’t know ball
August 5th, 2026 at 8:21 am
VV will be out until the first game and then play, but he won’t be in football shape. I say trade him near the end of preseason for a 2 and a player.
This guy was a captain last year? Some captain. Fellow team-mates see Baker showing up and VV pouting on the sideline about his existing contract – if I’m a player, I wouldn’t mind VV leaving.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:22 am
If the Bucs can get a second trade him. May be they can trade him to the Browns. They have 3 first round picks. Maybe we can trade our 2nd and VV for one of their 1st round picks.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Fred McNeil-
I’m not sure but it seems to me they would have cap space available if they withdrew their raise offer to Mayfield for this year…which is why they are probably waiting and letting Mayfield ultimately decide if he will accept the extension offer or play out this season’s contract.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:26 am
Adam Shefter, the king of saying alot of nothing.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:26 am
@ Lt. Dan
“Just took a quick trip over to the Bucs official team website where VV is listed as a NT…not a DT.”
I agree.
Davis (Philly) is the highest paid NT in the NFL at @ $26M AAV.
If Vea wants Carter money ($38M) he is a nut job like my buddy who shall go unnamed…
August 5th, 2026 at 8:27 am
Trading Vita sabotages the defense and the team….
i think Vita and the Bucs work it out and he’ll suit up next week or the week of the 1st preseason game….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Alanbucsfan Says:
August 5th, 2026 at 7:57 am
They’re not trading Vea
Bucs are probably reworking contract(s) to provide cap space for a Vea extension.
BINGO!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:29 am
@ warrin
“If you’re a grown man, who’s been watching this game for years and you have to wait until 2026 to ask “is a defensive tackle a nose tackle too?”
You don’t know ball”
This is one of the most passive aggressive straw men attacks I have ever seen here on JBF.
This is even pretty low for you warrin…
Sad.
Can’t prove your point without these lame little mind bending attacks?
August 5th, 2026 at 8:34 am
@ 813
I agree.
Just to clarify – I don’t want Vea to be traded.
However – if Vea doesn’t want to be here and is requesting a trade – what other solution is there?
Pay him a little extra cash? OK with me…
But I think there is something more to this other than cash at this juncture.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:41 am
Licht will overthink this/overplay his hand with this situation. The Bruce & Brady Bunch halo is long gone…reverting back to his Lovie days/daze.
Send VV home I say…although it could possibly diminish his trade value. Having him there on the daily reminds everyone that the prisoners run the asylum and Licht & Bowlz are a bumbling sheriff/deputy combo.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:45 am
This cap situation for VV is not something new !
VV knew the numbers were going to be like this, he was OKAY when he was at the top of salary at his position when he signed his current contract.
Get him OUT!
He’s old and standing on the precipice of falling off the performance cliff… maybe he knows that it will show up big time this season and doesn’t want to negotiate this time next year after a year of weakness on film from the 2026 season.
Get the bum out of town!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:49 am
culling the herd of big contracts is starting now. Evans did them a favor, VV will be traded making room for next years signings which I believe there are a lot and all won’t get signed. Salary Cap really does need to go up, all the money that the NFL makes seems like a bottomless pit.
I always thought dynasties were good for the league, but I doubt we will ever see one again. Chiefs were close, but talent drain due to salary cap issues. smh
August 5th, 2026 at 8:49 am
HEY !
Maybe someone knows..
What are the training bra looking things in black that the players are wearing over their tee shirts?
Game done gone Charmin !
August 5th, 2026 at 8:49 am
Hurt feelings maybe? Same was with Mike >> when we drafted Emeka and extended Godwin. Would be awesome to keep him or get a second round for him.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:53 am
@ warrin
If you don’t agree with me then you are a Nat-zee…
How does that feel?
August 5th, 2026 at 8:55 am
@ JD
“Hurt feelings maybe?”
Maybe.
Let’s keep in mind Vea played High School football in San Jose, CA.
He has earned a sh!t ton of Glazer cash already.
Could it be that he just wants to go back home (West Coast) to finish his career?
Maybe?
August 5th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Underpaid slightly not grossly. Pretty disappointed in players who don’t honor their contracts, I think after this year vea would have inflated his value with all the new pieces added unless the culture isn’t the culture the bucs say they have and he is kinda done with bowels think this was dumb on veas part.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:04 am
“This is one of the most passive aggressive straw men attacks I have ever seen here on JBF.”
Marine, is a shooting guard still a guard?
August 5th, 2026 at 9:05 am
Trade Vea and pocket that 2nd or 3rd rounder for the draft next year just in case you have to trade up for a QB. Rather get rid of a guy too soon than too early.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:08 am
@warrin
“Marine, is a shooting guard still a guard?”
I don’t play soccer.
Just football, foosball, boxing and wrestling…
That’s all I know warrin.
So please restructure your question so I am able to comprehend it.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:09 am
“What are the training bra looking things in black that the players are wearing over their tee shirts?”
Biometric data trackers, that can track anything from speed, quickness, distance travelled. The field is equipped with sensors that record the data taken in on every one of those vests/bras/whatever you want to call it to gauge player performance.
When you get player mph figures, or how quickly they can go from stand still to top speed, those “bras” are where the data is collected.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:10 am
@ SB~LV: I think the black “training Bra’s” house the equipment that measures vitals, speed, etc during practice. That is just a guess though. GPS tracking vest.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:14 am
@ Lt. Dan
Thanks for that info on the black vests…
I also was wondering why those were so prevalent lately.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:18 am
When Ve signed his deal – he was one of the top paid D Linemen.
It’s life in the NFL – contracts always go up.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:19 am
When Vea signed his deal – he was one of the top paid D Linemen.
It’s life in the NFL – contracts always go up.
Wish him the best and I wish the Bucs would at least guarantee his existing deal (maybe they’d already offered).
August 5th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Marine
i agree that their seems to be something else going on behind the scene….maybe Vita was lied to..maybe he was told he’d be extended before or right after the draft and now glazers/licht are backing out of their word…
the type of man Vita is, i can see if trust is broken, he wouldnt want to deal with you anymore…
now if bucs offer Vita a decent amount, like they did baker and he still wants out, then unfortunately we have to do business….would hate that route because with the addition of Bain, its almost like taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 9:33 am
@ 813
I agree.
Who knows what’s going on “behind the curtain”… And I could see Vea feeling slighted and saying “FU”.
It’s all speculation but we can also read between the lines.
Vea does not want to be in Tampa…
Worst case scenario IMO – Vea holds out until after week 7.
Then he plays on his current deal for 10 games.
I would rather just trade him if that happens.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:35 am
“would hate that route because with the addition of Bain, its almost like taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back”
Simply put
August 5th, 2026 at 9:37 am
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
August 5th, 2026 at 8:11 am
“Just took a quick trip over to the Bucs official team website where VV is listed as a NT…not a DT”
Ya’ll are telling on yourselves lol
If you’re a grown man, who’s been watching this game for years and you have to wait until 2026 to ask “is a defensive tackle a nose tackle too?”
You don’t know ball
_____________________
I *do* know ball. All NTs are DTs, but not all DTs can be NTs. The two roles aren’t interchangeable. NT is a specialty skill set that requires a few extra things that “just any” DT doesn’t have. For example, the ability to defeat double and triple teams. Vea does that. Most DTs can’t defeat a triple team. Some can consistently beat a double team.
Hell… last year (I want to say it was the Miami game), I saw Vea bullrush a center and essentially pick him up and shove him backwards three yards. An NFL CENTER!
Vea’s handling this entire thing incredibly poorly, though. When he signed his extension, he was the fifth highest paid DT in the league. A few guys came along after him and got more money and now he’s feeling disrespected despite the fact that the Bucs did him right last time around.
As we used to joke when I was in the Marine Corps… USMC stands for “U Signed the M-F- Contract.” This is what Vea signed. He should play through it.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:43 am
Get VV off the sidelines at practice!
August 5th, 2026 at 9:43 am
“All NTs are DTs, but not all DTs can be NTs. The two roles aren’t interchangeable.”
Been trying to explain this to Marine the past few days, he does not care because it makes his “pay Vita as a top NT, not a top DT” point, pointless.
“Hell… last year (I want to say it was the Miami game), I saw Vea bullrush a center and essentially pick him up and shove him backwards three yards. An NFL CENTER!”
This is almost on a game to game basis, it’s literally what he does and being over 30 isn’t going to make all that raw power dissipate. Vita doesn’t have the quickest first step, but if he gets into a linemens body it’s a wrap.
I know the exa
August 5th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Grok: Top ten defensive tackle salaries in 2022:
Here is a widely reported top ranking of interior defensive linemen/defensive tackles by AAV around the 2022 season:
Aaron Donald (Rams) — ~$31.66–$31.7 million (3-year, $95 million extension signed in 2022)
2 (tie). Leonard Williams (Giants) — $21 million (3-year, $63 million)
2 (tie). DeForest Buckner (Colts) — $21 million (4-year, $84 million)
Chris Jones (Chiefs) — $20 million (4-year, $80 million)
Jonathan Allen (Commanders) — $18 million (4-year, $72 million)
Vita Vea (Buccaneers) — $17.75 million (4-year, $71 million)
Kenny Clark (Packers) — $17.5 million (4-year, $70 million)
Grady Jarrett (Falcons) — $16.5 million (3-year, $49.5 million; some reports
listed closer to $17 million)
Cameron Heyward (Steelers) — $16.4 million (4-year, $65.6 million)
J.J. Watt (Cardinals) — $14 million (2-year, $28 million); Fletcher Cox (Eagles)
was also listed near this level in some rankings.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:47 am
@ warrin
No problem.
Please for once – just tell me…
What would be YOUR solution to the Vea issue? YOU are the GM…
What would YOU pay him?
For how long?
How much guaranteed money?
ANNNNNNNND GO!
August 5th, 2026 at 9:56 am
Having seen so many injury reports from the league, I don’t plan on getting concerned about VV contract / practice status until after the 2nd preseason game.
Vea not getting the crap beaten out of him for a couple more weeks may not be a bad thing.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:05 am
I’d like to agree with Borimex up there but that sentiment cuts both ways.
If a team signs a player to a 20 million deal and then thinks he is only playing like a 10 million dollar player, they ask him to take a cut like Dean. Or they uproot his family and trade him or they release him and pay as little of that contract they signed.
Both sides get unhappy and both sides go back on deals that they deem unfair. Nature of the beast.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:30 am
“What would be YOUR solution to the Vea issue? YOU are the GM…
What would YOU pay him?
For how long?”
Obviously keep him.
I’d pay him 3yr at $64M with about a $15-17M signing bonus, which would give Vita money up front, drop his cap hit, and give us spendable cash THIS year by lower his cap hit. Guarantee about $28-$32M
Pretty sure this can be worked out, which would also give Licht or whomever would be our GM in 2028 an out depending on Veas’ performance while also giving us time to scout and pursue the closest comparable long-term replacement for Vita. Also, lowering his cap hit this year would really help the team.
Also would try to restructure Tristan, Luke, or Antione in the process or at least inquire with them to in efforts to getting even more cap relief.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:31 am
Marine
Vita holding out until week7 would be a disaster!!!!
but yeah, currently, Vita doesnt want to be here and the only way to smooth things out is by offering him a deal that’ll make him HAPPY not just satisfied
crazy times…we’ll see what happens
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 10:33 am
WBL for GM in 2027!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 10:39 am
“What would be YOUR solution to the Vea issue? YOU are the GM…
What would YOU pay him?”
An extension
3 yrs, $64M, with a $15-17M signing bonus and $31M-$34M guaranteed. A little under half his guaranteed money tied up in the bonus which can be spread out over the duration of the deal. Just below the Dex Lawerence deal, with acknowledgement of the age difference.
Drops his 2026 cap hit substantially giving us the same relief we’d get with restructures to guys like Wirfs/Goedeke or even Winfield Jr.
The bonus pretty much takes what’d he make playing every game this year and give it to him upfront. Also, pays well for 2027, but gives us an out of the deal a year later in 2028 should his play fall off dramatically(which I doubt)
Keeps the anchor of not just the D-Line, but our defense as a whole in place and it gives him money to play for and close out his career making some good coin.
The cap savings would/should be too good to pass up, unless ownership really is nixing money deal from atop their perch at 1Buc.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Poor Vita “Loca” Vea. $18M this year for only playing on average, 66% of the defensive snaps a game? Sounds like pretty good bank to me.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:48 am
Trade him!
I love his history with the Bucs but he has changed the relationship.
Trade him!
August 5th, 2026 at 10:51 am
@ W
“Obviously keep him.
I’d pay him 3yr at $64M with about a $15-17M signing bonus, which would give Vita money up front, drop his cap hit, and give us spendable cash THIS year by lower his cap hit. Guarantee about $28-$32M”
Hello?
I’m fine with this…
Why did this have to be so difficult?
Your solution is the same as mine?
To quote the great lover of cousins – Jerry Lee Lewis – “goodness gracious great balls of fire!!!!”
August 5th, 2026 at 10:53 am
@ warrin
Obviously keep him.
I’d pay him 3yr at $64M with about a $15-17M signing bonus, which would give Vita money up front, drop his cap hit, and give us spendable cash THIS year by lower his cap hit. Guarantee about $28-$32M
Did we just become best friends?
August 5th, 2026 at 11:00 am
@ warrin
I’m fine with that.
HOWEVER – it takes two to “tango” my friend…
If Vea wants out – he gonna get out.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:01 am
3years/for about $64M
$15-$17M signing bonus
Drops his cap figure this year, which would add about 150% of what we have under the cap if I’m not mistaken. It’d make his dead cap figure ballon, but if the point is retaining him the next 2 years(this one included) it also give us an out that’s spread out and partly mitigated with the bonus $$
While also allowing us to retain the 1 player on our defense that can occupy 2 offensive players and pretty much ensures we have a numbers advantage in the box.
More too it than that, but Licht still has time to rework Goedeke & Winfields deal which would also free up more money this season to get us further under the cap.
You can be a fan of the team, and be for keeping/paying Vita which would also take some stress over our cap concerns immejiately
August 5th, 2026 at 11:01 am
3years/for about $64M
$15-$17M signing bonus
Drops his cap figure this year, which would add about 150% of what we have under the cap if I’m not mistaken. It’d make his dead cap figure ballon, but if the point is retaining him the next 2 years(this one included) it also give us an out that’s spread out and partly mitigated with the bonus $$
While also allowing us to retain the 1 player on our defense that can occupy 2 offensive players and pretty much ensures we have a numbers advantage in the box.
More too it than that, but Licht still has time to rework Goedeke & Winfields deal which would also free up more money this season to get us further under the cap.
You can be a fan of the team, and be for keeping/paying Vita which would also take some stress over our cap concerns immejiately
August 5th, 2026 at 11:02 am
I can’t imagine Bucs don’t want him in ’27, don’t see his skills diminishing that fast
August 5th, 2026 at 11:08 am
For some reason it’s not showing up, so I’ve posted the same sentiment in like 5 different ways, apologies but Marine you’ve been asking me this question all week so there ya go
August 5th, 2026 at 11:14 am
“I can’t imagine Bucs don’t want him in ’27, don’t see his skills diminishing that fast”
I’ve said it here and elsewhere, but raw strength and size don’t just fall off a cliff with age. Like Calais Campbell is still playing professionally and he’s 40. Not saying I want Vita to do the same, BUT big-strong has less physically hinderance a than say Tyreek Hills knees effecting his speed which has made him a boatload of money as a pro.
“ WBL for GM in 2027!!!!!”
I would never, scouts have all the money. Travel all over the country, good and terrible food, and best of all sustained anonymity.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:15 am
@ warrin
No worries.
I’m picking up what you’re putting down…
However – what if Vea just does not want to play in Tampa Bay anymore?
What if he wants to head back West with his sack of Glazer loot?
Now what?
August 5th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Joe says:
Joe believes Vea is way underpaid. So Joe sort of leans with Vea here. It’s possible that the Bucs’ internal grades aren’t as high on the 31-year old Vea as talking heads may grade him.
A deal is a deal. Vea should honor his contract and find out what he is worth in the open market after the season. And he just might find out that as a 30+ part time player he ain’t worth as much as he thinks he is.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:19 am
WBL says: I would never
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
everybody has a price lol
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Contracts in most sports leagues especially the NFL, the final year is meaningless. By then the player isn’t being paid what he’s worth, and he wants protection from injury, with no future money. That’s what Baker wants, Vea wants, they all want league wide. No one honors their final year including owners.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:33 am
“However – what if Vea just does not want to play in Tampa Bay anymore?
What if he wants to head back West with his sack of Glazer loot?”
I’d put that on the front office as a massive eff’up
August 5th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Outta shape Suh in his head ,he asked for a trade! Careful what you wish for!
August 5th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
I can’t imagine the defense being a whole lot worse without Vea than it has been for the last few years with Vea. When an anchor is weighing you down, cut loose the anchor.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Everyone is “tradeable”. What is his true value? Could they get a 1st or 2nd? Do they settle for a 3rd or worse? OR can there be a player they could trade for? Bucs certainly could use a good CB… While I haven’t combed the rosters of late for the 32 teams i dont think there is an even swap at his position because there is only ONE Vita Vea with his defined clear cut role in THIS defense. Anyway you slice it, for this season, if he’s not on the field, this defense will struggle. VV is the key to their success or lack of.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
I’ve got a feeling someone’s been dropping a bug in Vida’s ear…
And that would be none other than Vea’s good buddy “Suh”. That’s IF it’s really about the money. I have no doubt that Vita might have asked Suh’s thoughts on the matter.
But then, the “money” just doesn’t make sense. He only has this last year of his contract owed to him before he gets his next. It just doesn’t line up.
Then again, I’m in the same camp of thinking that this may well have more of an underlining meaning than the money. Only one real way to find out.
As much as I enjoyed the exhilaration of having our first UNSTOPPABLE offense in our history, I suppose I cut my teeth on our years of having a Dominant Defense.
(One of the Very TOP REASONS I can’t stand the current D coach! And for that matter, the way the head coach has completely BLOWN UP all that was good and right, I find I can’t stand him either!) And I savor the day that we are Once Again a DOMINANT Defense….
And with that said, I SURE WAS looking forward to putting together our D line as something Very Special. And now with the Vea situation my heart is sinking once again. The money actually “doesn’t” seem to be that big of an issue. The “TRUTH IS” Vea was likely to shine the brightest he’s been since he got here with all of the new supporting cast! And in turn, it certainly would’ve jumped his value for one final Extra Large contract.
The money DOESN’T add up. Could it really be so bad under Bowles that he like all the other’s can’t stand to be here under this thumb? What DID Bozo Do last year? Just what in the h311 did he say that BLEW UP THE ENTIRE TEAM?
What in the world is going on over there? And DON’T give me some fluffy excuses! There’s NOTHING fluffy about this “seemingly continued” exodus!?
It’d be nice just to go back to playing ball without ALL the Drama and the Trama.. I’m getting pretty burned out with all the lies and complex (because nobody will tell us what’s actually going on) deception .. But as I mentioned above, the money just doesn’t make sense. Vea’s initial agreement just isn’t that bad.
As I’ve said before, got a strong feeling that “The Players haven’t forgotten last season.” It was only 6 or so months ago and apparently, THAT POTATO MIGHT STILL BE…. RED HOT!
August 5th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Hodad … ‘Contracts in most sports leagues especially the NFL, the final year is meaningless. By then the player isn’t being paid what he’s worth, and he wants protection from injury, with no future money. That’s what Baker wants, Vea wants, they all want league wide. No one honors their final year including owners.’
Fascinating perspective Hodad, and especially the last line (their final year). Some interesting research along those lines:
o Low Long-Term Retention: Only about 30% of drafted players remain with their original drafting team after their initial contract expires.
o High Team Turnover: NFL roster retention averages slightly over 60% year-over-year, meaning roughly 40% of a typical roster changes annually.
o Contract Completion Rates: NFL contracts are frequently not fulfilled. For example, less than half of players signing two-year deals last the full term.
There’s an interesting article titled ‘Most Players Don’t Make It to Year 3 of a Multi-Year Contract’ (18 Mar 2019) in which they used Peter King’s research to show that ‘the majority of contracts that are initially reported as lasting 3 years or longer actually last only 1 or 2 years’. Of 197 contracts they looked at, 121 never made it to the 3rd year of their deal (61.4%). Older data, but probably still valid today (VOID years giving the player or team an out seem to have become even more predominant in the last decade).
August 5th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
@TonyD
For you, this is a “Come on man” moment.
Your claim is he’s been worthless.. Are you even from America? I mean asking you if you’ve bothered to watch the games just seems moot! And IF YOU did, then YOU would certainly REALIZE HOW STUPID WHAT YOU JUST SAID WAS AND IS!
Since YOU realize that Vita Vea takes on a MINIMUM of approximately 600lbs (two to three LARGE men at the same time) and MORE PER PLAY! Let THAT sink in….
Revise THAT stupidness and try again!
August 5th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Absolutely trade him. For a 1st and a CB.
Elijah Simmons looks like a Neanderthal. He’s 340.
We need an extra 1st round pick.
And we need to sign Yaya and Mauch next year.
I know Vea is a Bucs legend. But we can get an elite DT/NT in the 1st or 2nd round next year and save a lot of money.
And imagine getting a solid CB in the trade as well?
We have a very deep defensive line this year.
I think this is the year we finally make a trade.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Obvious One … ‘Could it really be so bad under Bowles that he (Vea) like all the other’s can’t stand to be here under this thumb? What DID Bozo Do last year?’
I was wondering something very similar a couple of days ago Obvious. But then I started thinking that maybe all this is a side-effect of the Glazers decision to keep Bowles as HC. MAYBE most of those on the team last year are convinced that Todd’s just a ‘place-holder’ for this next year while the Glazers maneuver to find who they REALLY want as coach. And MAYBE they’re also convinced that Jason might be joining him in the unemployment line?
IF you … as a key player … believed that you were significantly underpaid for this year AND that your HC & your GM would both be fired after this season, you might be tempted to take a stand NOW to get an early deal on a better, long-term contract. Who knows if the next HC & GM would even want you? And even if they did, who knows what changes they’d want to make in coming here that’d impact how much they could pay you?
Timing is everything in show business, and the NFL is show business personified. I’m ‘old school’ in that I believe ‘a contract is a contract’, but both Mayfield & Vea have mega-millions on the table and they’re rolling the dice.
August 5th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
My question are the Glazers is: do you actually think there’s a current HC or HC candidate that wouldnt want Vita on their defense?
every HC in the NFL would take Vita right now at his current age…no matter what defense they run
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
After seeing that Dexter Lawerence deal with Cincy, HAS TO give the Bucs FO reason to pause before handing-out BIG-$$$$$’s LONGTERM, to an aging NT… Especially, when versus IF they can get something back close to that in return. I mean, you HAVE TO at least “shop him around,” and TRY.
August 5th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
trading vea would just enforce the idea that this season is just a wasted season and the Glazers are looking towards the future.
Very disappointed in the Glazers. I’m glad we gave up our club seats.
August 5th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
Vita doesn’t fit in every defense so no not every coach would want a 31 year old nose tackle
August 5th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
VV must have other issues other than money.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Trade him. He’s unhappy, will be a cancer to the team.
Traitor.