Vita Vea’s Agent Thinks Trade From Bucs Is Inevitable
August 5th, 2026
Vita Vea asked for a trade and, like any reasonable person who made such a bold demand, he meant it.
The Bucs won’t extend Vea’s contract and/or give him raise and he’s unhappy to the point he wants out.
Collin Roberts, Vea’s agent, told TampaBay.com a trade appears inevitable, via a story published this afternoon. “I just don’t see it ending in anything but a trade at this point,” he said.
Vea was Tampa Bay’s first-round draft pick in 2018. He became an iconic Buccaneer and a fan favorite.
The Bucs could keep Vea and he wouldn’t get paid if he doesn’t play in the regular season. And since Vea seems all about the cash at this point in his career, it’s a safe bet he would show up in Week 1 of the regular season and do his best to have a great year.
Would that be worth it for the Bucs? Doubtful.
However, Joe doesn’t think the Vea saga is over. Joe explained how rookies Rueben Bain and Josiah Trotter, among others, could inspire a change in stance from the powers brokers at One Buc Palace.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
He gone.. Give us a 2nd and be done with it..
August 5th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
Like Ron and Ron used to say back in the day…..SEE YA!
August 5th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Trade that fat f$@k
August 5th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
He doesn’t want to honor the contract that he signed. Trade him for a pick and a cornerback. Keep the drama to a minimum.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Yet there he was … out in the rain… hanging out with his teammates 🧐
August 5th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
‘F him. Trade his a$$.
Get a 2nd and a 5th.
Take his face down off the stadium.
Remember this when it comes to the Ring of Dishonor.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Bake and Vita: Bad Ju-Ju for training camp…….
August 5th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
And yet there he was… out in the rain.. with his teammates
August 5th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
🚨
Good riddance. Nobody is bigger than the franchise.
Vita, the moment your agent starts telling the media a trade is “inevitable,” you’ve already checked out. The Buccaneers don’t owe anyone a farewell contract because of what they accomplished yesterday.
You either want to be here or you don’t. We’ve got young, hungry players ready to earn their place. No excuses. No diva mentality. Next man up.
Football is a business. If you want out, don’t expect us to beg you to stay. Get the draft pick, reinvest it in players who are proud to wear the pewter and red, and keep building.
And to anyone still pouting over the past: if a player wants to leave, let him leave. Stop acting like the franchise can’t move forward. Championships are built on commitment, not entitlement. If you want to sulk over yesterday’s production, lock yourself in your room and pout alone, BUCS will keep moving forward.
🔥 LFG!
👨🍳 Baker for MVP ‘26
🏈 Next Man UP!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
Time to move on.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
If Vita doesn’t want to be here – so be it. Seems with the guys we have – a 4-3 might be the way to go. And if SVD only has to cover 1/3 of the field, he may actually tackle someone before he chases them down the field.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
🚨
Good riddance! Nobody is bigger than the franchise.
Vita, the moment your agent starts telling the media a trade is “inevitable,” you’ve already checked out. The Buccaneers don’t owe anyone a farewell contract because of what they accomplished yesterday.
You either want to be here or you don’t. We’ve got young, hungry players ready to earn their place. No excuses. No diva mentality. Next man up.
Football is a business. If you want out, don’t expect us to beg you to stay. Get the draft pick, reinvest it in players who are proud to wear the pewter and red, and keep building.
And to anyone still pouting over the past: if a player wants to leave, let him leave. Stop acting like the franchise can’t move forward. Championships are built on commitment, not entitlement. If you want to sulk over yesterday’s production, lock yourself in your room and pout alone, BUCS will keep moving forward.
🔥 LFG!
👨🍳 Baker for MVP ‘26
🏈 Next Man UP!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
RELAX.
Agent speak. Still a month away from Week 1
August 5th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
If he truly wants out of Tampa, then wait until the regular season and trade him. Dude was a part time player anyway. If he’s just saying he wants a trade then give him a bump in salary this year and be done with him after this year.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
He doesn’t want to lose out on a year’s salary. He’ll play.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Wouldn’t mind getting a 2nd
August 5th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Sign Baker to 4 years!!
If VEA doesn’t want a two-year extension, trade him. Get early second and a fourth.
Because two years is all he has left. Everything after that will be tens of millions of wasted dead cap space, he’s already been declining
August 5th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
F it. Trade him. If this was Bill Belichick, he would have already been traded for a 2nd rounder and used that on a good corner in this years’ draft.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Trade him. If this was Bill Belichick, he would have already been traded for a 2nd rounder and used that on a good corner in this years’ draft.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
That’s a silly take. NFL teams repeatedly break the terms contracts they sign their players to. This is just business.
The Bucs should trade him though. For the overwhelming majority of his career he typically plays half of the defensive snaps. If someone is willing to part with a 2nd for a players who has historically been a part time player (in terms of snaps) then move him.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Relax folks. Does anyone remember Derrick Brooks holding out of training camp in 2001 with TWO years left on his contract??? The holdout lasted 11 days. He returned to camp and signed an extension before the season began.
Licht won’t accept anything less than a second round pick. And why should he? If Vea leaves in free agency next year, the Bucs will likely get a third round compensatory pick.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
Honest (and probably silly) question – I know he wants out of Tampa because we won’t pay him, but don’t we hold all the cards because he’s under contract? If he sits out the season, he won’t get game checks AND it will hurt his value next year during free agency. If we don’t trade him and he plays, he will have to play well or again, he will hurt his value in free agency. If he fakes an injury, this again will hurt his value. Soooo, what am I missing here?
August 5th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
Again in KGB voice. Pay the man his money
August 5th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Yes yes – this approach worked so well for Hassan Reddick’s career. I hope he is smart enough to play this year and negotiate later. What choice does he have except holding out, losing a ton of money, then being “that guy” like Hassan.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
That is what a good agent should say. It is a business. Not what we see it as being fans. Go fishing and hunting. These dudes don’t care about you at all !
August 5th, 2026 at 4:40 pm
Well Colin Roberts, feel free to bring in trade offers!
August 5th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Are Kancey, Roberts, Nacho, Robinson, and Capeheart so bad and incompetent that they can’t hold the line ? if I recall correctly, the 25 players on the defensive side of the ball last year were at one time split 5 in each skill group – DL LB OLB S CB – those 5 should do ok without Vea
August 5th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Nobody wants to be embarrassed. Not even big professional athletes. Not only was Bowles defenses totally embarrassing the last few years, THEY ALSO KEPT HIM FOR ANOTHER YEAR, which really makes no sense, unless the Glazers don’t want to win football games. So, can you blame Vea for wanting a trade? I don’t.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
When players under perform, owners cut em and dont honor the contract they agreed to. When players over perform, they hold out and ask for more instead of honoring their contract. Either way, NFL contracts are rarely honored. Nature of the beast.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
To the above comment, if you assured me those other lineman, Kancey specifically would be healthy all year then not much of a concern to let Vea walk. Not saying his size and power is replaceable but the sky wouldn’t fall.
The bucs will be eyeing Jayson Jones, Roberts, Simmons etc very carefully as they weigh their Vea decision.
Vea absolutely seems the type to show up for his money and fake an injury (although that’s risky when team doctors are involved cause then this gets real messy and into litigation as the Bucs will surely try not to pay at that point). Either way if the Bucs play hardball, I don’t think we get a very good Vita.
Free agency wouldn’t be hurt much. He just tells potential suitors that he kept his body fresh and didn’t give 100% but will for them.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
(Copied from other significantly older thread…)
Realistically, the Bucs have the talent to beat almost any team with health. That offensive line can keep them in any game if we let it. Just run the football. A lot. That opens up the pass and our O-line will provide plenty of holes to run through- even against the best teams! Couple that with much stronger defense (which we will lose without Vea since we immediately start having trouble stopping the run up the middle) and suddenly every game looks winnable. The difference between a healthy and heavily injured offensive line is **enormous** on this team with all the high draft picks on the line…let’s do this! Also, don’t look now but David Walker has a sack in 5 successive practices. If he keeps this up he’s gonna be pushing Yaya to start. Yeah, I said it.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
So the team decides to keep Bowles and then runs off the player that Bowles calls the most important player on defense. How about if we trade Bowles and keep Vea?
August 5th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
Pay the man. 2 Year extension, 49 million. He’s better than all of the guys that have gotten paid this off-season. Is he older? Yes. Is he still playing at a high level? Yes! Do I anticipate him still being worth the money 2 years from now, YES!!
August 5th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
Bucsfan252, that was funny bro!!!
Rounders was a superb movie, haha!!
August 5th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
We’ve been too nice for too long.
It’s time to get à 1st and a CB.
Vea is still elite.
He is worth a 1st round pick. Ànd à cornerback.
This is actually à blessing in disguise.
We can grab an elite NT in the 1st or 2nd next year.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
You’re missing the fact that it flushes this season down the toilet and this could be a very surprisingly good season. If we trade him, it gives that potential away… and not for enough return.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
he refuses to play and pretends to be injured he dont get paid it a 56m cap hit if traded not happening
August 5th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
It does absolutely no such thing, “Stpetematt.” Come on, man. IF they can somehow get a 1st or 2nd-Round PICK, in THAT LOADED 2027-Class, ANNNND while ‘SAVING’ $20+MILLION PER YEAR in the process, over the next 2 or 3-YEARS… Then, that is a TOTAL WIN. 💯
August 5th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Vea still has one year on his contract. If he doesn’t play, he will still have one year on his contract.(And a slightly lower bank statement than he planned for)
He will not be eligible for free agency until he plays out that last contract year, or we release him.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
Would the Bucs get better draft picks if we trade now or later after some games have been played?
August 5th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
Tom Edrington Says:
August 5th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Bake and Vita: Bad Ju-Ju for training camp…….
What does Baker have to do with the VV saga? Baker is committed to playing all season (unless injured). Baker just wants a longer contract, a fair deal on the money with more guaranteed money.
Vita right now is a sit-in with a “tweaked” back and demanding a trade.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Then, it gives them more room and opens up even more ‘opportunities’ for if they DO have that ‘special’ season, and then become “BUYERS” at the trade-deadline. So, it’s definitely NOT “OVER.” Just STOP with all of the fricking HYSTERICS.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Nice!…. Evans Express !
August 5th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Our best outcome is we force him to play the season and then let him walk. We’ll get a third round compensatory pick
August 5th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
On a day where Aaron Donald just did a tryout for LA, this is what we’re doing. It’s like being on the have-not end of the haves and have nots.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
Good gosh Vita has played 8 years in the NFL how much more can he have in his tank ? He’s definitely on the downside of his expected abilities as a defensive tackle.
Go Bucs !!
August 5th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
All those squawking that Vita needs to honor his contract need to remember that he has been approached multiple times over the years by the team to restructure his contract and he agreed to it every single time. (It may have benefited him that I admit). However, it goes both ways.
August 5th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
I feel bad for Vita . Without the extension his family will be on food stamps.
He will have to accept a job as a strawberry farmer. Life just isn’t fair.
August 5th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Only Tampa bay would not advance the contracts of its 2 best players. One on offense, and the other on defense. You cannot make this up. You really can’t.
August 5th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Beeej Says: “Our best outcome is we force him to play the season and then let him walk. We’ll get a third round compensatory pick.”
Excellent point. Unless a team is super desperate or loses a DT in training camp, I highly doubt they give up anything higher than a 2nd round pick.
August 5th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
He’s not man enough to honor his contract; send him packing.
August 5th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
Basically Tampa traded the rights to Josh Allen in the draft to get vita vea back in the day. And now this?
August 5th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Let him walk. Trade him for a Cubano and 3 beers.
If he doesn’t want to be a Buc, make it happen.
Cut any and all (even possible) locker room cancers out of the building.
Talking to you too, Mayfield.
August 5th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
Fans are funny when they say he won’t play out his contract blah blah blah. Swap positions with him in your line of work. If you are the longest tenured at your job and you are out performing your pay grade…. Wouldn’t you ask your boss for more compensation or find another job? It’s pretty much the same thing. Yeah these guys are making millions and any of us would take that kind of compensation but we don’t play in the NFL. Pay the man!!
August 5th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
@Mcruzer
You said he restructured his contract and it benefited him. So what should he being praised for by you. I’m missing g something. He redid his contract same money he was making just more paid upfront in the form of a signing bonus so we can stretch it out over multiple years and get cap money that year. What did he do so jolly that we should take into account. He didn’t take a pay cut.
August 5th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
I love Vea. Bought his jersey. Cut bait now and get a high draft pick.
August 5th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Guessin Wirfs mural is in the works
August 5th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
Suh has him dug in. He wont miss week 1 .. ching ching.
But if he’s hellbent it is likely inevitable
August 5th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
During our 2020 Super Bowl year, Vea played in the first 5 games then got injured & didn’t play again until our 3rd playoff game. In those 5 games (we went 3-2) he had 2 sacks, 3 QB hits & 3 TFLs. He played in the last 2 playoff games & had 0 sacks, 0 QB hits & 0 TFLs.
Vea wasn’t really a major factor in that 2020 season, but Suh, RNR, Gholston & McLendon were. We’d almost all expect Suh to be a major player, but the other 3 really rose to the occasion once Vea went down. RNR & McLendon handled the NT role, while Suh & Gholston handled the DT/DE roles.
Question is … Do we have DLinemen this year who will ‘rise to the occasion’ if we trade Vea (or if he just sits out)? Robinson isn’t quite a Suh, but he’s pretty danged good. We’d still have RNR & Kancey & Elijah Roberts & Capehart, plus we’d surely fill Vea’s spot with either a FA or someone like Jayson Jones or Elijah Simmons from our Practice Squad.
I don’t think our DLine would be as good in that case, but we’re not devoid of talent either. By sitting out this preseason with his ‘injury’ and not practicing with the team, Vea’s playing a dangerous game. Lots of different ways this could go (to include trading him), but in any event, the Bucs aren’t totally helpless without him.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Another site proposed some decent trades. Not sure how the money plays out but the one trade that was interesting was a trade with the Bears for Cole Kmet, Gervon Dexter, and a late round pick. Our TE group would be upgraded, we would have a young DT with size and pass rushing upside.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
D-Rome Says:
“That’s a silly take. NFL teams repeatedly break the terms contracts they sign their players to. This is just business.”
This is untrue. If they don’t pay the full contract, it is because the option is in the contract to not pay the entire contract. That’s not breaking the contract.
Vea agreed to those terms on his current contract.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:15 pm
I agree trace him for a 2nd round pick
Switch to a 4-3 with Rozeboom. Trotter in the middle.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
For those that recognize how VV is a unique player in the NFL but want to move on due to his age and the potential contract implications, I respect your opinion. It is valid, but my preference is to keep him.
For anyone poo-poohing exactly what VV is and saying ” Get rid of the ungrateful bum!”, you simply do not realize what he means to a defense. Why do you even think teams want him? The man is special. And for everyone thinking about what this DL can be this year, sure. Without him it has potential talent. With him it has the potential to be one of the best in the league this year.
If there’s a chance, I don’t want to throw it away.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:19 pm
Vea is the only NFl defensive lineman we have. Everyone else is a scrub.
Or did you not watch those clowns last year.
Last year we had 5 above average players. Lavonte David, Vita Vea, Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs, Mike Evans.
David is gone, Evans is gone. Vea wants to be gone. Mayfield may have to play here this year- but he’s gone as soon as the season ends.
Adios Bowles, Adios Licht.
Good luck Wirfs.
No Qb. We spend 2-3 years to draft a QB. 3-4 years waiting for him to adjust, to find out if he’s a QB, or a Jameis.
At least 5-7 years, if we are lucky, before we get a good team
Doubt Wirfs wants to waste 5 years.
This is what happens when you ignore the pass rush 7 years in a row.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“Question is … Do we have DLinemen this year who will ‘rise to the occasion’ if we trade Vea (or if he just sits out)?”
Exactly.
He waited until late in the off season to pull this. That prevented many trade options (in the draft, for example). We have no money and no way to replace him.
The way I see it, there are two good options:
• Make him play. He’ll play hard to get a big contract next year, and it buys us time to find a replacement.
• Make it known the Bucs will only take a first rounder. We all know he isn’t worth it, but on the off chance some team is stupid enough to pay it, put it out there.
To me, getting a 2nd rounder isn’t worth having a hole in his spot this year…but making him play in a contract year? That’s worth it.
If he gets injured, he’ll be cheap. If he plays badly, he’ll be cheap.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:27 pm
Some of yall are so emotional lmao
August 5th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
Capt.Tim, Baker won’t be gone next year, unless a new coach wants him gone.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
A good NT doesn’t have stats that show up on ESPN
August 5th, 2026 at 7:37 pm
2020 SB year, Bucs offense averaged almost 31 points per game.
Does anyone really think that’s realistic this year?
The only trade consideration Bucs should make (and I’m against trading Vea) is for another starting NT – and good luck finding another one as good as Vea in a trade.
A draft pick? You’re helping the team you trade Vea to, so good luck with that.
If you’re lucky you’ll wind up with a serviceable backup in the future with whatever pick you get.
He’s a captain, the management put his picture up on RayJay, this could be a special year for the Bucs – don’t screw it up over $7-8 million/year
August 5th, 2026 at 7:37 pm
Bowles agent already planning to the offseason excuse PowerPoint.
Slide 1 – Evans left
Slide 2 – Vea
Slide 3 – Baker was upset
That’s why we need 2 more years after a 6 win season.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
If he sits out the preseason and does not practice until the first week of the season and then decides to play. When others hold out similar to this their season is usually injury plagued does to lack of practice. I could be wrong, he could be playing with fire himself?
Remember belichek always traded veterans a year prior to their decline due toage etc.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Tom. I remember that. I was at pepin-root training camp practice and midway through Brooks ran out to an uproar. Before we all carried phone with the latest news in our pockets.
I don’t think Vita really wants out. He just wants a long term contract getting paid top 8 dollar. I’m not so sure the Bucs will give it to him. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the team already offered him a pay bump this year and he turned it down. My guess is the Bucs are going to make him play it out. The question is will he just sit out and take the fines or play.
I think the Bucs will go DT round one next year. There’s some really good ones.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:56 pm
Your crazy, don’t trade Vea, there is no deep playoff run this season without Vita. I want to win. Find a way to give Vita a 2 yr deal and get him out there practicing. We already lost Evans and David. Please, please don’t make us lose Vita Vea. Please stay Vita. Go Bucs!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
TBChucky Says:
I want Alfred Collins… I want an NFL Ready player…. I do not want a draft pick
August 5th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
Package Vea with Chris Braswell for a second round pick and don’t look back. for those thinking he is all that–he is 31 y/o, badly out of shape and demanding a trade, refusing to practice, injury prone and loaf prone.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Most overrated defensive player in the league!!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
Once a player demands a trade, grant him that wish immediately.
Everyone can be replaced. No matter their position.
Time to inspire change.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
If VV50 is gone, then NEXT MAN UP!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
Please don’t forget that this D has been absolutely dreadful WITH Vea. For all that he does, never forget 3 & 26 or 4 & 14.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
Forcing Vea to stay and play this season is worth more than a 2nd Round pick that Licht usually whiffs on, in my opinion.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:40 pm
He gone.
August 5th, 2026 at 8:47 pm
Suh has poisoned him…remember what Suh did during his career, it doesn’t look good at all. Take a second rounder or an 3rd and a 5th and call it a day, we got what we got from him and if he doesn’t want to be here – good riddance!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:54 pm
Stinkin Owners need to gloss up this year’s paychecks for Vita, the reassess at season’s end
August 5th, 2026 at 9:06 pm
Weird…his agent wants a new team/deal so that he can get his cut. He was a pretty good Buc and was paid handsomely early…extended before he finished his rookie deal. Move along, VV and agent…stop the feckless fight for a new deal in Tampa.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
If the Chargers really want to make a legit run at a ‘wide-open’ AFC (and can free up enough room cap-wise), then THEY should go after Vea. NOBODY’s offering up any 1ST’s in THIS DRAFT. And, I believe Vea is gonna find-out real quickly, that there are NOT very many teams out there, who are just so enthusiastically ‘chomping at the bit’ to sign OLD and EXPENSIVE run-stuffing NT’s right now. Vea has really done the Bucs ‘DIRTY’ AF for waiting until THIS LONG, to try pulling SUCH BS. I mean, WTF has changed since the pre-draft/free-agency period!? Seriously. It’s BS. That’s some standup guy for ya right there… And, a franchise who has been awfully DAMN GOOD TO HEEM, including getting HIM a fricken Super Bowl, and putting HIS name and image high upon the stadium, for everyone to see!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 9:18 pm
Yep. That’s some “Thanks” the big-guy is showing there, and waiting until now. That’s some TRASH.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:24 pm
Well, you dangle a couple of those draft picks in front of Jason Licht and that’s probably all she wrote. Off to the Jets!!
August 5th, 2026 at 9:26 pm
@ Bucfan1988 Says: “Bucsfan252, that was funny bro!!!
Rounders was a superb movie, haha!!”
The “World Series of Poker” MAIN EVENT Final Table is TONIGHT at 10:30 on ESPN. They’re down to the Last 2-Players, “HEADS UP.” Winfield Senior participated in it this year… They started with over 9000+ Entries!!!! I watched/DVR’ed all of them, and got all 💯 completely ‘caught-up’ earlier today!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 9:26 pm
As long as he’s not hurt you can just as easily trade him at the deadline, and trust me that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
This team (stop me if you’ve heard this before) is going no where under this staff. Jason is collecting all of the inquiries and if a team that thinks it has a chance at getting to the SB is desperate, maybe they cough up they’re late round one at week 8.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Haha he has an agent and a financial agent Suh. I like Vea but he’s starting to become a cry baby drama queen
August 5th, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Might be a good piece to save for the trade deadline
August 5th, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Btw…..no issue with Vea playing his cards. This is the time to do it if you’re him.
Good for him.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
And, is VEA (at 32-34 years old) REALLY ‘worth-it’ at $25-MILLION… Is REALLY worth say $15-MILLION MORE PER YEAR, over a much younger and athletic guy (or solid vet), who’s making only $10-MILLION!? That’s another VERY important question you need to ask… Cause, there are much more important ‘positions’ of major impact, and that extra $15-MIL can go a looong ways to help fill. Corner!? Though, I’m really talking more about our future and the longterm Salary Cap implications.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:54 pm
Pay him or trade him, but don’t drag it out.
August 5th, 2026 at 9:56 pm
I hate to see Vea go but this will be a test for Bowles. if Bowles is such a ****ing defnsive genius, he should be able to come up with a scheme which does not require Vea clogging up the middle and can work with the other talent on the roster. Of course last year he stubbornly refused to alter his scheme where the ILBs were continually torched, time and time againd especially SVD.
In a way, if Vea is traded away for a day 2 draft pick, it will be good for the club in that the Glaazers will finally see if Bowles can handle adversity. Most of us already think he cannot but maybe this debacle with Vea will open ownership’s eyes. But if Bowles can make his D respectable, good for the club, if he cannot, then the new coaching staff will have an additional draft pick or 2 to work with for 2027.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Capt. Tim Says: “Last year we had 5 above average players. Lavonte David, Vita Vea, Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs, Mike Evans.”
Not a single ONE of those guys, were “Above Average” last season, OR lived up to the level of THEIR current contracts. NOT A ONE. Hell, ROOKIE DT (“BIG-BAD”) Deone Walker had just as good of a season than VEA did, and made a MUCH ‘bigger’ impact in far fewer snaps (in just 60% of the snaps). Outside of Wirfs, they’re all getting OLD FAST.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:09 pm
@ Bobby – There is no “playoffs run” WITH Vea.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:27 pm
@ Lefty R Says: “I do not want a draft pick.”
That makes NO SENSE. Especially, in THIS NEXT DRAFT-CLASS. I want as MANY as I can friggin’ GETTTTTT.
@ CosmoKramer Says: “Time to inspire change.”
THIS is exactly what EVERYONE was saying last season… We need to CLEAN HOUSE. There is something that REALLY ‘STINKS’ all within and throughout this ENTIRE organization, from the top to the bottom. We are in a desperate need of a fresh new start, and complete change of CULTURE. And, that we have to get YOUNGER, and HUNGRIER. We got old, fat, lazy, and CONTENT. Now, I don’t know about you all, but “I” haven’t seen anything yet, to have changed MY damn mind.
August 5th, 2026 at 10:30 pm
The glazers are back baby!
August 5th, 2026 at 10:55 pm
The problem for Vea (and of course “us”) waiting up until this point… 90% of the team’s rosters and salary cap’s are already, mostly ALL-SET. All of the “Contenders” who would even be ‘interested’ NOW, would have to resort to ‘tricks’ (& etc.), in order to ‘free up’ available cap space. And, then it would make ZERO SENSE for any of the BAD ‘Rebuilding’ Teams (with actual cap space left) to invest A PENNY into an OLD and EXPENSIVE DT longterm. It does absolutely NOTHING FOR THEM. Especially, if they are (quiet) TANKING. I mean, you’d have to find a REAL STUPID Franchise out there, who’d be willing to do THAT. His timing, has really put us in a BIND here, and I believe that it is ALL INTENTIONAL. 💯 It’s just ‘DIRTY’ AF. He’s TRASH. He KNEW the chances of him getting dealt at the trade-deadline (on an expiring contract), were HUGE.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:09 pm
@MelvinJr.
You managed to cram every sports cliché into one post: “clean house,” “culture,” “younger,” “hungrier”, yet somehow not a single fact made the trip. If your entire argument fits on a bumper sticker, it probably isn’t much of an argument.
No need to change your mind. Matter of fact, the Saints, Panthers, and Falcons could use a fan with your weekly meltdown routine. Every bit of adversity has you screaming to burn the whole thing down.
Meltdown Melvin is becoming a fitting nickname.
🔥 LFG!
August 5th, 2026 at 11:18 pm
In Bowles scheme, we will be an above average run defense, below average pass defense…with or without Vea.
The personnel wont matter. What Kyle Shanahan is to offense, Bowles is to defense, only the exact opposite when it comes to positive production.
Vea can help another team win now, in Tampa he’s just another guy that the coordinator won’t be able to maximize on the field.
A future draft pick will hooefully be more valuable to the next regime.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:25 pm
Trade him to a weak team with state income tax and get a 2nd and 3rd for him they will match his current salary … Let him think about… maybe it was better staying TB.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:28 pm
Nobody wants to play for Bowles.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:47 pm
Lol. Nobody is going to offer a second round pick for a 30 plus year old DT, guys. Going rate is like a 3rd and a 6th best case scenario.
August 6th, 2026 at 12:44 am
Damn Suh turned Vita to the dark side. I agree at this point trade him get what you can. If your not with us your against us. As much as I hate losing I would rather lose with players that want to be here and give it there all on the field than win with a bunch of babies that are only in it for the money.
August 6th, 2026 at 1:01 am
If you trade him…it sends a message to other players that they can exhibit the same behavior.
Same thing if you pay him more.
Force him to play.
And to those saying we can’t score 31 points per game this year, o long as the offense stays healthy…you are wrong.
We will make the playoffs.
August 6th, 2026 at 1:29 am
Meltdown Melvin! Bori, Mex, touche!
August 6th, 2026 at 5:27 am
Let’s move him out of here then. There’s no time for guys crying about money when they’ve already been paid generational money. Get the best you can for him move on.
August 6th, 2026 at 6:08 am
@ BoriMex813 – And, yes. I meant “quotations.” Extremely sleep deprived right now. I was actually, going to ‘compliment’ YOU earlier today too, on your first post on this topic. But, I ran across another ‘one or two’ others while on my way scrolling down, that I felt needed more immediate attention LoL. Anyway, I was going to say that “YOU” finally had said something SMART to say, for once Hahah. And, that it was your best/smartest post to date.
August 6th, 2026 at 6:16 am
Trade him to Cleveland. They should have some pretty high draft picks in whatever round. I’m sure Vea will love it up there playing for that loser organization.
Be careful what you wish for …
August 6th, 2026 at 8:26 am
Season is over if VV goes
August 6th, 2026 at 9:02 am
@Bonzai
“If you trade him…it sends a message to other players that they can exhibit the same behavior.
Same thing if you pay him more.”
I’m OK with all the other 1st round picks on the team with 8 years of solid production and their visage plastered on the side of the stadium asking for an extension or a trade.
August 6th, 2026 at 9:30 am
Much as I’d like to see this get worked out, the longer this goes, the more cancerous it gets. I’m right on the verge of declaring “dead to me” status, like Evans.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Keep him and tag him next year if he plays good it he doesn’t f him..get the comp pick from him.