Who Leaked The Teams Calling The Bucs About Vita Vea?
August 15th, 2026
It’s no surprise to hear the names of the quality NFL franchises seeking to acquire Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea, who has not practiced in months and has asked for a trade.
But who spilled that news to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo over the past few days, and why?
Before the Bucs-Jets kickoff yesterday, Garafolo reported the 49ers, Bills and Bears have called the Bucs about Vea, among other teams.
Garafolo was at Bucs-Jets practice on Wednesday with NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew. Joe saw Jones-Drew talk to Vea privately at practice. Garafolo also was on the field reporting at the Bucs-Jets preseason game last night.
Was it Vea who shared the information with Garafolo, or was it his agent? Or did Vea’s agent ask Vea to pass on team names to help drive up trade demand?
Keep in mind that any club trading for Vea likely would want to sign him to a multi-year deal. And they’d want to talk to Vea’s agent first to feel out what Vea is seeking in a contract extension.
Or did Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht leak the teams to Garafolo in hopes of driving up what he could get in return for Vea? Joe’s unsure.
Regardless, the potential trade partners emerging likely means there’s been movement on the Vea front behind the scenes. Three days ago, Vea expressed his frustration publicly, albeit uniquely. Fellow NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport shared on X that he’s constantly being hit with questions about Vea’s availability when he visits training camps across the league.
Obviously, Licht is hurting for cornerbacks whether he agrees with that statement or not. The Bucs would need a miracle to compete for a Super Bowl with the cornerbacks they have now.
Vea might be able to fetch a solid, experienced cornerback in return. Or a Vea trade could provide quality draft capital plus salary cap relief for the Bucs to pay a cap casualty cornerback who breaks free when roster cuts happen leaguewide in two weeks.
Joe wonders how Vea’s 2026 value to the Bucs would be affected if he showed up for work five days before the season opener after not practicing since the 2025 season.
August 15th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
Well, it’s out there now. Which CB would we want back from any of these three interested teams that would make up for loss of our best defensive lineman?
August 15th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
Carlton Davis, à 1st and a 5th.
August 15th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Carton Davis? Not with the contract he has now. I believe he is making more than Vita.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Who cares. Let his greedy behind walk. He’s a part timer anyway
August 15th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Trade him to the AFC
August 15th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Licht said the Bucs were not trading Vita Vea. If Vita sits out the season it will cost him the 17 million he was to be paid this year. Assuming he left the Bucs at the end of the season and signed elsewhere for 25 million per year for two years (max for a DL his age) he would average 16.5 million per year for this year and the next two years. It would be stupid to sit out.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Did anyone else notice Seattle signed T. Arnold?
The Bucs didn’t even take a sniff at that dude…
Stupid is as stupid does.
We have the worst CB unit in the NFL.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
Sorry Marine, I have no quarrel with a team that refuses to sign a man looking at a life sentence.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
Yes I agree we have the worst CBs in the NFL. Licht and Bowles must be in fantasy land regarding the current CBs.However don’t trade Vea. Pay the man money he deserves and extend him a year. Give him something. Then please go get a legitimate CB too. We really need both really bad
August 15th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
the bills will need him to have a chance against the patriots ravens and broncos. and the bucs won’t face him unless it’s in the sb
August 15th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
At the end of the day this could go one of three ways: he’ll either get a contract extension, play on his contract or he’ll get traded. -John Madden
August 15th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Just give him a few more million for just this season – i feel like this is prob his last season in tampa anyway – if hes chasing the bag he will want to play well and if he has a good year our defense has a chance to at least be competitive
August 15th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Why would you want a player who doesn’t want to be here? You can’t trust him to give full effort. As Bucs Guy said, trade him to the AFC and be done with him.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
I don’t know what Vea’s agent is up to, but he doesn’t seem to have made any effort to make his client sympathetic to the public. Consequently, most people seem to be saying “Good riddance! Let’s get what we can.” Baker’s controversial, but at least he gets his side out there so that his supporters are not left empty-handed. The Vea camp seems totally unprepared for the negotiation game. Fans are an important element in the struggle and ignoring them is a losing strategy.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
Forget that. Make him play out his contract. He’ll have no choice but to play his best in order to get offers.
A 2nd round pick is not enough. Start a bidding war and see what happens.
And I disagree about our CBs. We don’t actually know if a couple will improve.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Nicky666 Says:
August 15th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
“Just give him a few more million for just this season – i feel like this is prob his last season in tampa anyway..”
No need. He’s under contract. Make him honor it.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
I saw Bowles at the Burger Vault. He ordered a bacon cheeseburger.
When asked what type of cheese he wanted, his reply was obviously Swiss.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡
August 15th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
Give us a 1st rounder and he’s yours.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:56 pm
A great pass rush can really help the cornerbacks. I say pay Vita. Give him a 3 year deal, if need be.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
“Joe wonders how Vea’s 2026 value to the Bucs would be affected if he showed up for work five days before the season opener.”
I don’t know. He seemed to hold his own in the 2020 NFC Championship game and Superbowl after missing 11 games. Major shout-out to Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (a.k.a. “Nacho”) doing an admirable job, replacing Vea during that long injury period.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
no one is giving a 1st for vea…maybe a late 2nd but more likely a 3rd and 5th possibly. he’s old and gonna be 32…and not Aaron Donald or Suh. I like vea but this is a distraction. what a mess
August 15th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
BucsFan2023 said, “If Vita sits out the season it will cost him the 17 million he was to be paid this year”
He can’t sit out the whole season and get what he wants – a trade. The Bucs would own him in 2027 because he lost an accrued year on his contract. He HAS TO play at least 6 games this year in order to become a free agent. The question is, will he really sit at home for 11 weeks, losing over $1 million per week?
It almost never happens and when it does, that player never seems to be as good the rest of his career.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:24 pm
No cosmob,Bowles doesn’t hide,like you hes out there taking his punches you on the other hide, whine and criticize..you should be CowardKramer
August 15th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
“Did anyone else notice Seattle signed T. Arnold?“
The man is fighting 8 felony charges, you want him to play for the team at the scene of the crime?
How would that look for the Glazers and the franchise locally?
Meager potatoes
August 15th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Why is everyone so obsessed with T. Arnold? He’s facing kidnapping charges and at some point the NFL will get involved and suspend him, maybe for half the season.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
Come on people. It,s all part of the game so he sits out training camp and pre season, so he won,t get hurt. Bucs lost to many team leaders this year and no way Light will let another get away! Vita Vea has been there in bad times and best of times and will leave a Buc for life! Will wait for Jeremy Fowler to break the news of a new 3 year contract.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:38 pm
The negotiation strategy Vea is using is akin to blackmail … ‘pay me more, a lot more, or trade me, or I’m not gonna play at all to fulfill my existing contract’. Whether he intends to fulfill that ‘threat’ is irrelevant; the Bucs have to take him at his word at this point. He’s painted Licht into a corner. If JL gives in to Vea’s demands, he’ll face the same strategy by numerous other players every year from now on.
Vea’s not really negotiating; he’s issuing ultimatums that SHOULD be unpalatable to any GM. Vea SHOULD have done this right after last season ended if he really cared about being a Buc. If he had, at least the Bucs would’ve had the OPTION of signing a quality FA to replace him or drafting his replacement to create better leverage (and no, Capehart isn’t Vea’s replacement, but I think he will be a good backup NT/DT for depth).
Regardless of how each of us feels emotionally about Vea’s strategy, he is a critical element on our DLine. I’d much rather see him in a Bucs uniform this season than not. Next year? Not hugely concerned. But at the same time, a dissatisfied, pissed off Vea in the locker room … regardless of how well he’s playing on the field … is not in the Bucs best interests. This is getting messy.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:40 pm
Scott McKirahan Says:
August 15th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
BucsFan2023 said, “If Vita sits out the season it will cost him the 17 million he was to be paid this year”
He can’t sit out the whole season and get what he wants – a trade. The Bucs would own him in 2027 because he lost an accrued year on his contract. He HAS TO play at least 6 games this year in order to become a free agent. The question is, will he really sit at home for 11 weeks, losing over $1 million per week?
It almost never happens and when it does, that player never seems to be as good the rest of his career.
You are right on the accrued year lost. It’s still 11 million that has to be taken into account in his average income when his agent is considering offers
August 15th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
I don’t think this is working out how VV imagined.
Remember the video of he and Licht walking by one another? They barely spoke and didn’t get withing 15 feet of each other. That said a lot.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
Agree with a 3 year deal, with the rest of the other upgrades on the DLine, it will help our CBs.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
I already knew those three teams were interested and I had no information other than looking at their depth charts. Pretty obvious when you narrow it down by teams who have the cap space, the need, and are in win now mode.
August 15th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
GM and HC are trash 🗑️
August 15th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
@Defense, I don’t agree with that. If Vita decides not to play he’ll lose each games pay check that he misses. Lichts back is only against the wall if he gives in and trades Vita to a contender. If I were Lichts I’d be looking at teams that think they are contenders.
I believe Licht has to have an honest conversation with himself about this. How many wins do the Bucs get with Vita and how many without? I don’t see Vea adding a significant amount to the win total and he’s not going to be back next year. So if the price is right you offload him, they could also make him play and see where they’re at just before the deadline then keep him if the season is going well and trade him if not.
August 15th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
Make lynch give a first. He is inept and makes bad moves and has an affinity for Tampa players. Vita is from SF also
August 15th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Package him up with Chris Braswell and B-Mo and ask for a second and a 6 or 7
August 15th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Again, which of these teams have such a stable of CBs that we would get a worthwhile one in a trade for Vea. You will get a teams CB4 and their 4th rounder. Weak.
August 15th, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Dear lord Firethecannons!
That’s a terrible return. Morrison might be a bust but he’s a year 2 second rounder. You wanna give him up for a 6th and 7th after 1 year!?
August 15th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Defense rules says:
Regardless of how each of us feels emotionally about Vea’s strategy, he is a critical element on our DLine
That’s it in a nutshell. I
If the Bucs trade Vea, the DLine will not be very good.
And without a good DLine, Bucs are not a winning team.
Fantasize all you want about the backups Bucs have and Kancey playing a full season, if they trade Vea, it would be like the Bucs trading Wirfs.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
Future picks or dont trade him. A veteran CB would be a wasted acquisition in this defense. Any bum can stand 10 yards off the ball and give up 5 yard passes at will.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:05 pm
Vea a malice in the locker room? I can’t see it I don’t think he knows how. Think he is getting some questionable advise from suh. Not a lot of leverage there and an overestimated trade value just doesn’t make a lot of sense to trade vea unless you get a starting cornerback and you won’t get that for vita.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
Bowles is laughing at all of you right now. He doesn’t need CBs he will just send the Defensive Lineman down field 40 plus yards lol.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Living rent free in the cramped space that is Steve V’s tiny brain pan!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
August 15th, 2026 at 8:25 pm
First, those who think he is worth a first in a trade need delusional therapy. No way, no how will that happen.
As for contracts, each team should make it clear that no player’s contract will be up for renegotiation, ever!
Don’t like it, don’t sign.
I rarely side with ownership, but in these cases they have my full support.
The best sports renegotiation story of all time comes from Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Bulls in the 90’s. Look it up.
If I was Licht I wouldn’t budge unless a rare player for player swap gave us a player equal to or superior to Vita. And for that to happen you’d need a team and player in conflict where the team wants to dump him and move on.
Vea is not gonna let 19 mil just float away. He will suit up. And if he suits up and plays with half effort, nobody will want him next year.
This tearing up of contracts and giving in to unjust demands from players has got to stop!
August 15th, 2026 at 8:38 pm
They don’t give it back when they suck
August 15th, 2026 at 9:19 pm
Vita not going anywhere . We are better with him than without and some 2nd string cb won’t help. All I hear about this Joe is how we need a pass rush and getting rid of the best nose tackle will not make us better . Anyone that thinks different is just stupid.. i
August 15th, 2026 at 9:34 pm
Nuclear yet unlikely option…keep playing this game of chicken…then cut him before Week 1 of the regular season. Teams would be hard pressed to meet his contract demands at that point. Of course I’m not sure if this year’s salary is already guaranteed, how badly it’d wreck next year’s cap etc. He’s playing stupid games and he deserves stupid prizes. The influx of D-Lineman getting record deals since the hold in have only made matters worse.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:41 pm
Ahhhhh, that was my first thought… WHO!? I assumed that it was the Bucs. But, can we please STOP on the Cornerback obsession (and delusions). No “Contending” team is parting with any ELITE-Corners. ALL we’d get back in return would be a Salary Dump (&/or) overpriced head case, that they didn’t want. Though, I would take-it ONLY IF it improved our draft compensation in the trade. Otherwise, I’d MUCH RATHER have the ‘highest’ best possible PICK that we can get in THE most LOADED Draft-Class of ALL-TIME. This Bucs Team currently has a ZERO % shot at winning a Super Bowl. ZERO. There is NOT 1-CB going to change that. It’s called living in the REALITY.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:57 pm
edge rush cud spike his value
August 15th, 2026 at 10:09 pm
kgh4life
It’s willful ignorance transitioning into dangerous stupidity.
Happens a lot these days.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:11 pm
All yall talkin bout our corners for vea dont know shiet bout ball. Theyre double teaming vea and leave bain in 1on 1s and diaby you lose that it doesnt matter who the corner is
August 15th, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Ant, it doesn’t matter who the DT or corners are if the corners are consistently playing 10 yards off the ball. It’s all irrelevant in this scheme