Vita Vea’s Future With The Bucs
July 8th, 2026
Looking into near-future.
As Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Monday night, the Bucs are “in no rush” to get Vita Vea extended to a new contract.
The big fella Vea is in a contract year. Likely in part to his close relationship with training partner/ex-teammate, financially savvy Ndamukong Suh, Vea was a hold-in at mandatory minicamp practice.
Vea was there but he didn’t practice and thus avoided a fine for just showing up. Vea, 31, is, by NFL standards, in the sunset of his career. He may hang on for a few more years but it’s safe to assume he may not recapture his past dominance much longer.
Vea was drafted in 2018. He was given a year to get his feet wet in the NFL and the following year, the anchor of the Bucs defense, Gerald McCoy, was shipped out.
So yeah, you could say Vea was drafted to replace GMC, who was 30 when the Bucs drafted Vea. During the 2027 draft, Vea will be 32.
(To be fair to Vea, in recent years, defensive tackles seem to be extending their shelf lives in the NFL. Vea’s buddy Suh last played at age 35.)
Joe thinks the same is at work with Vea. Joe wouldn’t be shocked or awed if at some point this summer or fall, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht rips up Vita’s 2026 contract and signs Vea to a two-year pact lasting through the 2027 season.
Why? The answer in Joe’s mind lies in a Twitter from BSPN draft analyst Jordan Reid. The draft guru noted Tuesday that the top end of the defensive tackle draft class of 2027 is stacked.
So if recent history holds, the Bucs will draft in the late teens. Too late to grab one of the many top-shelf quarterbacks expected to enter the 2027 draft.
But defensive tackles aren’t as shiny and nice as quarterbacks; one of the aforementioned tackles Reid cited will likely be on the board when the Bucs pick.
So it’s not crazy for Joe to expect one of those four to be the anchor of the Bucs’ front-seven in 2028 when Vea is either playing for another team or chillin’ back in California as a retired player.
July 8th, 2026 at 5:09 am
I like Vea but hes going to have to wait until after the season. Good and great players can be found all over the draft, it just depends on if your evaluators can find them and if the coaches can bring the best out them. Also you can trade up or down to get the player you want, thats an option. Bucs will be fine as soon as it realizes its not a serious contender. They need to take a season or two to really build the foundation and identity for this team.
That’ll have to happen when Bowles leaves.
July 8th, 2026 at 5:51 am
The piper has to be paid in the form of less big name talent on the roster when you have quarterbacks who insist their share of the pie deserves to be so big.
July 8th, 2026 at 6:01 am
I think he’s worth two years 42 million. Seems unfair making him play on his last year for less than market while Licht paid Zyon early when he didn’t have to. I think Vea holds out. I wouldn’t blame him if he did.
July 8th, 2026 at 6:06 am
JR—
Couldn’t agree more. When GM’s pay their QB’s a boatload of cash, all that remains is a hollowed out vessel that can barely float. And guys like Vea, who the Bucs might want to keep, are forced to be released and sign with a team with a QB on a rookie deal or a less greedy man behind center.
50 Mil for Baker leaves 251 mil for the 52 who dress and all others under contract.
We can only hope Licht sees this and the resulting consequences.
Paying Baker before the season begins is a just a bad move, plain and simple.
July 8th, 2026 at 6:35 am
Oh – cry me a river with these “champagne problems”….
Vita has made $70M in the NFL thus far and is under contract this year for $17M + a $1M bonus for being active on game days.
That’s the whole point of signing a player to a long term deal. It feels expensive up front – but less so on the back end – IF the player is playing up to that large contract…
Vita is playing this year to determine what his next contract will look like.
There’s no reason whatsoever to extend his contract without first seeing what a post-30 Vita Vea can do over the course of another full season….
Assuming Vea plays at least one more year beyond 2026 – he will be well over $100M in career earnings – soooo pretty sure the big guy is going to be OK financially….
July 8th, 2026 at 6:51 am
Hodad mentioned 2 years $42 million or $21 mil a year. That might, maybe fly with a full guarantee plus generous incentives. He is scheduled to make $17 mil this year. Maybe 18. If we ignore his demands and decide to franchise him the tag for next year is supposed to be almost $30 million or $25 million on the transition tag. Not bad, Hodad.
July 8th, 2026 at 7:56 am
@Hodad
i agree….thats a solid # for both sides imo
GO BUCS!!!
July 8th, 2026 at 8:03 am
His production and game is the type that will fall off the cliff in short order.
Father Time doesn’t treat his body type well.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:04 am
Vea is 31 years old and if memory serves, only plays about 50% of defensive snaps. How much of bump in money and years does he really deserve. Time to be fiscally prudent. Reassess the situation after this upcoming year.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:07 am
Well said Pickgrin.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:16 am
An aging, part-time DT is not worth $20m a year. He’s just not. Trade him while you can get something for him.
This is an 8-9 team with or without him.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:26 am
Yup, trade him ASAP.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:33 am
Lt. Dan, Defense Rules posted a snap count for the entire defensive line and Vea was up the past couple years. I believe it was 75% snap count or higher.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:37 am
For all the people saying “trade him”, I promise you would regret it if we did. His value to this team is so underrated
July 8th, 2026 at 8:42 am
Three level chess. That’s what you’re playing Jose. You may be on to something though.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:57 am
WestPhilly you are correct. We need him this year. But his career is right at the line of the sunset beginning to fall.
Give him a raise, another year and get his replacement in here pretty quick.
July 8th, 2026 at 9:05 am
“For all the people saying “trade him”, I promise you would regret it if we did. His value to this team is so underrated”
Drastically underrated, and he’s primed for having old man strength at the point in his career nothing from Veas’ play the last 1-2 years tells me he’s declining physically. In fact, he came back to camp in ’24 after working out with Suh looking leaner in ever and over the past 3 years his snap count has been on the rise.
Amazing he’s stayed as healthy as Vita has the last 2-4 years given the nature in how and where Vita plays on the defensive front as the tip of the spear.