All Eyes On Vita Vea
June 15th, 2026
A July 2025 photo of Vita Vea.
Scheduled to participate in his first spring practice tomorrow is Buccaneers manbeast veteran defensive tackle Vita Vea.
It’s a contract year for Vea, and anyone who watched him sit down and talk money and more with future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh last year knows Vea very much has cash on his mind as he enters his ninth NFL season.
Joe has no problem with that.
Some guys are motivated by money. For some, it’s fame or love of the game, or stats or championships, or catching passes from Brock Purdy.
Of course, a player can be motivated by lots of things. There is no wrong way to be motivated.
Joe will have a sharp eye on Vea tomorrow, the start of Bucs mandatory minicamp. Per various reports, Vea is returning to Tampa after extended training with Suh, who is the master of NFL fitness at his position.
Now retired, Suh is in full entrepreneur mode but still has time for a success-focused podcast. Interestingly, about six weeks ago, Suh dove very deep into how he went 13 NFL seasons without missing a game for an injury.
Vea has become one of his prized pupils. And Joe thinks it’s no coincidence that Vea played his first full 17-game season last year after preseason training with Suh left Vea more lean than usual.
Joe expects a crazy-driven Vea to show up at camp tomorrow and to emerge early this season. He’s wrapping up a four-year, $71 million contract and surely is gunning for a multi-year deal at $23 million+ per season like some of his peers are earning.
Would the Bucs pay Vea that kind of cash? That will depend on the Bucs’ status in the NFC, and the play of those around Vea (i.e.: Rueben Bain and Calijah Kancey).
June 15th, 2026 at 2:36 pm
Wonder if someone else likes kit-kats more than Bowles does.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
A 2026 photo would’ve been better.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Tell that to Vea. Have to see the guy first before you can shoot a photo.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Vita will be smart to do what Mike did, go somewhere with a real coach. Someone who would value him as a defensive lineman instead of a hybrid LV/CB/S/bottle washer. He should be on a hall of fame track. Coaching has held him back.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
the addition of a.robinson should help Vita tremendously…
GO BUCS!!!!
June 15th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
“Pay him, pay that man his money” – KGB
Vea simply cannot be replaced. This is a no brainer.
When he isn’t in the game, the defense takes a huge hit.
Results count and he gets a lot of them.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:52 pm
Just hopin’ Kancey spent some time with Suh as well *fingersCrossed
June 15th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
I would rather see the bucs pay vita than baker carr for sure vita needs to play in tampa his whole career
June 15th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
I think Suh would look good as a coach on the Bucs sideline. Dude clearly knows how to prepare and play.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
I really like Vea . I believe his conditioning with Suh will enhance his career. However with Licht’s love of short term deals, I don’t see the Bucs offering a multi year deal, maybe 2 at most. At Vea’s age I can see them going a 1 year deal. If Vea is after money he may need to move on. Hopefully the Bucs give him a ton of money for the year. If he has a good year I can see that. I am not sure Kancy can take a lot of snaps without getting hurt. The Bucs need someone stable like Vea to hold that line. I just don’t see Kancy holding up. His history says he should play limited number is snaps.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Suh used to live a block away from Vea before moving. A Shawn Robinson now lives in Suh’s old house. Hopefully, they all level up.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
Gotta be in shape to cover those shifty slot receivers.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
…and for some it’s Stats & catching passes from Brock Purdy
Also, while there may be no “wrong” way to be motivated, I’m taking “love of the game” guy over “money” guy every single time and twice on Sundays!
June 15th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Would love to see some more muscle on that behemoth. I know it’s a year ago, but not a flattering pic. As much natural athleticism as he has, it. Would be nice if his moobies had a bit more muscular support.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
As a fan, it is so annoying to talk about how a player is going to ball out because it’s a contract year. For me it screams hey I’ll give you 75% or even 50% effort until it’s time for a big payday. We see it time and time again. Vea early in his career came in overweight to the point of only being able to play half the defensive plays in a game. I like Vea, but if he comes in as a slender version of himself looking to tear up the league I have a problem with that.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
They might have to let him walk along with Mauch to pay Baker.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
Show this man the money
June 15th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
I would expect these huge fat guys in the NFL to have alot more muscle mass than that photo.
Kinda like Rotta the Hut in the Mandalorian movie Lol. He’s jacked for a fat blob
June 15th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Pay this man!
June 15th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
He must suffer terribly from HRSBC.
Heat related side boob chaffing.
Talk to your doctor today V.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
Don’t pay him, he single-handedly lost us the last seven of ni……oh, sorry. I had a munchlapse…😊
June 15th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Can’t wait to see him and loane, the rookie of Baltimore battle it out
June 15th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
I’d rather give Vita an early extension over Baker. At least with Vita you know exactly what you’re getting – which is a top-end NFL NT.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Steven007 Says:
Would love to see some more muscle on that behemoth. I know it’s a year ago, but not a flattering pic. As much natural athleticism as he has, it. Would be nice if his moobies had a bit more muscular support.
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At the 2018 NFL Combine, he did 41 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, the second highest of anyone that year. At the 2026 NFL Combine, zero players were able to do 41 reps. Three players were able to do 30 or more.
I wasn’t able to find out what he’s able to do now. It would be interesting to know.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
David Walker was supposed to be his replacement down the road.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
Coach get on his ass about his weight
340 and he will be a star
June 15th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Vea is having an All-Time Buccaneer career. Pay him now, while Bain etc are cheap.
June 15th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
Badd azz run stopper!
June 15th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
Badd azz run stopper!
June 15th, 2026 at 9:26 pm
Replace who, Vea???
Walker was never to replace Vea. The reason why Walker fell in the draft was he is so undersized. Walker is an edge rusher. Vea is a tackle.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:29 pm
I think Rod is obsessed with Baker.
His head is going to explode when Baker signs his new Bucs deal, soon.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:34 pm
this picture shows a fat man without any defined muscle, not sure how he makes it work