Might Josiah Trotter Save Vita Vea?
August 5th, 2026
Rookie inside linebaker Josiah Trotter
Bucs fans can agree that Vita Vea is an impact player the team cannot afford to lose if it wants to reach a Super Bowl this season.
But Vea requested a trade and is not practicing, and notable NFL insiders known for their Tampa Bay pipeline think Vea is locked in on his position and an uglier impasse is inevitable.
Joe is on record in favor of trading Vea.
When’s the last time a situation like this got smoothed over successfully with a 31-year-old veteran? And are the Bucs a Super Bowl contender with Vea? If he can fetch solid trade value and other Bucs defensive tackles get through training camp healthy, then make the deal because it’s likely in the best interest of the franchise.
That said, Joe thinks there’s a brewing X factor in the Vea saga.
Through two training camp practices in pads, Bucs rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter looks like a quality rookie, and maybe much more.
If that holds, Trotter would represent a massive lineup upgrade from SirVocea Dennis. And Trotter plays alongside Alex Anzalone, who already represents a significant improvement from retired Lavonte David (the 2025 edition).
If Trotter continues to impress deep into training camp and rookie Rueben Bain keeps looking like a savior-in-waiting edge rusher, Joe absolutely could see Team Glazer and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht convening to discuss how satisfying Vea financially could put the team in contention for much more than the NFC South landfill crown.
The summer performance of those rookies, the Bucs’ Round 1 and 2 draft picks, could change team perspective on Vea, especially if the offense stays healthy in August.
A rookie middle linebacker playing well is no rarity. The Bucs enjoyed that in 2011 (Mason Foster), 2015 (Kwon Alexander) and 2019 (Devin White).
August 5th, 2026 at 11:07 am
To me, the easy solution is to give him a good bump in salary this year and guarantee the year. $5 to $7 million addition puts him in the upper tier of nose tackles. Not prohibitively expensive, satisfies him for this year, and we can address the rest at the end of the year. Done.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Speaking of rookie linebackers, really a shame what happened with Kendall beckwith. He was really trending up before that horrific crash.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:10 am
Astute take.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:14 am
steven007
i agree
satisfy Vita and Beckwith couldve been special
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Vea has been the defensive MVP basically his whole career IMO, outside of Shaq’s 19 sack season. There is no other player that is a force multiplier like he is across the entire front 7.
He’s been underpaid the last few years and Id pay him on a big 2 year deal ($25m/year) and draft a huge beast NT R1 or R2 next year.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Joe I have been saying all along if the Bucs believe they have a real chance this year both Vea and Baker would have been signed. So if Bain and Trotter are coming across as really making a difference both Vea and Baker will be signed before the season starts. The Bucs are not going into a season with real expectations without having those 2 in a solid place. If they don’t think there is a chance this year then Vea won’t and Baker may later or at the end of the season. So let’s see if the Bucs are really Serious aboutthis year
August 5th, 2026 at 11:26 am
How is the rookie DL from Clemson, DeMonte Capehart, looking? I haven’t seen his name at all on practice note or other articles. That might be telling the story, just not sure.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:28 am
Joe don’t forget about Kendall Beckwith. Man I had high hopes for that kid until he destroyed his ankle. I really don’t worry about Licht and his linebackers. Don’t know what happened with Dennis, that was a miscalculated flop.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:29 am
First VV says he wants to be traded!
What don’t you understand about that statement?
He wants OUT!
Of course he will make the team better if he is playing but he doesn’t want to play for the Bucs !
Trade him today!
Take the pick and move on. He is at the end of his career and his body type production will fall off the cliff one day soon.
A second round pick represents the future!
August 5th, 2026 at 11:34 am
He’ll never be worth more, trade him. Bucs are going DT next year in a deep class. Trading Vea now can only help for next year. Get a quality replacement cheap in the draft.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:46 am
@SB~LV
There are several examples that the ” I want to be traded” phrase means pay me and I am staying…..
Maybe this is another case…..Nobody knows not named VV or JL
August 5th, 2026 at 11:48 am
I am enjoying the turn toward optimism. Sometimes you’d think we were the Dolphins or Browns or something, when actually we were a game away from the playoffs with an injury-wiped team.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:51 am
There’s no quality replacement for Vita Vea in the DT crop of 2027 draft prospects. Also, we’d be looking at replacing A’Shawn Robinson who’s only signed for 1-year, after that we’d be left with Capehart, Roberts, and maybe Simmons.
Now, if we were to keep Vea and still draft a DT to succeed him, I’d go with Ahmed Moten and keep the Miami Hurricane pipeline active.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:58 am
How long did Foster, Alexander and White last and where are they now??? We have no Bowles “tree” coaches who up coach any position nor Bowles himself. More often than not rookies can flash then not pan out. Bowles and his system is a destroyer of defensive talent that never recover once they leave. Banking on rookies to save the team is never a good strategy.
When it comes to Vea I do want to know if it’s about money or Bowles. I tend to lean towards Bowles because his toilet bowl system will have a 340lb lineman covering rbs and tes more mobile than him instead of being on the line and clogging up the middle, taking on double teams so others can rush the qb while keeping rbs from having straight up the gut runs that Tucker had the other day all the while getting sacks along the way. It’s got to be frustrating just like it got to Mike after 3rd28 and 4th&14.
August 5th, 2026 at 11:59 am
dennis stats were better than anzalone and trotter had 1 good practice
August 5th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Again, I’m a bit frustrated with us just assuming that Vitas play will fall off within the next couple years due to his age. His play on the field shows no sign of slowing down just yet. I’d be willing to bet that he will be elite for at least another 2-3 years. Haloti Ngata and Vince Wilford both played until age 35/36. Vita is 31 and I personally believe that he is better than both of those guys. Let’s at least extend him 2 years. Would love to see him finish his career as a Buc.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Joe… if they wanted to give Vea more how much could they afford right now ? Surely you know the cap situation better than most of us, I would appreciate if you inserted the financial implications of Veas situation in one of these articles.
Obviously I understand they can move money around to make more space but again… how much they need? Who would be restructured? Help us narrow the speculation.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
WESTPHILLY
PREACH!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
I still don’t think enough people truly realize how important Vita is to this defensive line. He is a force in the middle unlike any other. There are very few players in NFL history, let alone playing today that are able to do what he does. His impact goes far beyond what shows up on the stat sheet. He does nothing but make everyone else’s job around him easier. Especially LBs and Defensive ends. One of the best NT of all time. A beast at stopping the run and Has more sacks than any elite nose tackle that you can think of. More than Dexter Lawrence, More than Vince Wilfork, more than Ngata, etc. he is truly a unicorn of a player and deserves real HOF consideration (he won’t, but he should).
August 5th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
Steven007 Says:
August 5th, 2026 at 11:07 am
To me, the easy solution is to give him a good bump in salary this year and guarantee the year. $5 to $7 million addition puts him in the upper tier of nose tackles. Not prohibitively expensive, satisfies him for this year, and we can address the rest at the end of the year. Done.
_______________________________
I don’t disagree if we’re playing fantasy football. There’s a problem for the real-life Bucs. Namely, the salary cap. Over the Cap has the Bucs at around $8.5 million below the cap, and if you give all (or most) of that to Vea as you’re proposing, there’s no room to pick up a scrap heap upgrade later in the preseason.
If money’s not a factor, I say pay all the good players $100 million a year. Keep them nice and happy. Unfortunately, money is a factor and that’s not possible.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
“Namely, the salary cap. Over the Cap has the Bucs at around $8.5 million below the cap, and if you give all (or most) of that to Vea as you’re proposing, there’s no room to pick up a scrap heap upgrade later in the preseason.”
Extending Vea and giving him some guaranteed money this year, can lower his cap hit from this year and spread it out over the course of/exceeding his new deal.
We could also restructure at least 2 big earners, and free up even more cap.
Then money can be made available, problem is we’ve seen next to nothing in terms of a desire for the front office to do so.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
Marty, there are a million different ways to manipulate the cap. In the last decade when they still had brees, the saints did this nearly every year. They were in much worse Cap shape than we are.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
Bucco Marty, bring 8 million under the cap at this point in the season, actually affords them plenty of flexibility.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
I can definitely see taking care of Vea, as I’ve said. Up to a point. Just as with Baker, or any other player (especially at his age). You CANNOT handcuff yourself, where you make that player unmovable in the future. Sometimes, it’s better (for both sides) to move on, part ways, and get what you can.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:40 pm
In all our previous years our stars restructured their deals so we could keep other stars happy. Winfield, often etc.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Better not lose your Franchise Player on Offense and your Franchise Player on Defense in the same year cuz that screams R_E_B_U_I_L_D
VV will get done before the season starts.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
@ SB ~ LV Says: “A second round pick represents the future!”
Has to strongly be considered, IF you really can get a 2nd. Especially, IF it is to a team with a good shot at falling apart, and it then becomes an ‘early to mid’ 2nd-Round Pick, in THIS Friggin’ Draft-Class. Since, that’d be like the equivalent of getting ANOTHER 1st-Round Pick, when compared to almost any other Draft. I mean, hell, you could even use-it to move up into the backend of the 1ST-Round, in order to get the 5-YEAR option, if there’s a QB there, that your new young STUD HC wants. Not saying that I would necessarily do it… Hell, it’s 8-MONTHS OUT with still A LOT left to play-out! But, picking up an EXTRA (especially early to mid) 2ND-ROUND PICK in THIS DRAFT, is not the worst thing that could happen. 💯 I mean, if you’re talkin’ a brand new young STUD ‘play-caller’ HC, a young and ‘super aggressive’ GM, with Jeremiah Smith, AND a Quarterback!? Ummmm, Yah… Far Far Worse Things.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
My question is why is Dennis still running with the ones have we not seen enough of his lackluster play?
August 5th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
God bless Kendall Beckwith.
An LSU badass.
He was amazing for us.
Poor guy. Never had a chance.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
“My question is why is Dennis still running with the ones have we not seen enough of his lackluster play”
Still has a green dot on his helmet too.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Just remember everyone was on the Sirvocea bandwagon during his rookie training camp too. Jeremiah hasn’t done anything yet.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
If we want to go to the Super Bowl we have to figure out how to beat the freaking Rams. We don’t cover Puka Nacua or especially Davante Adams very well and would need to change that to have a chance. Maybe put Keionte Scott on Nacua (he’s much faster) and double up Davante. Of course, we need to have a good season too which is entirely within our grasp if ownership and the GM wanna take their heads out of their respective backsides and pay the players that with these great new additions *could* take us to the promised land! Win now. We can do it.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
The message the Glazer’s are sending to all players and staff: we don’t believe we have a SB caliber team and will wait and see how this year plays out before paying anyone.
This could quickly lead to all tuning out the coach and looking elsewhere for a payday.
It takes 2 to tango but there must be a comprise found for both Baker and Vita. I can only hope leadership is working in good faith with both, but it doesn’t sound like it.
If there is a lack of confidence in Bowles as part of this, then why is he here? Wrong messages being sent.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Trade him, we won a SB without him. Before you say but he came back for the GB and Chiefs games. His stat line for those games, 1 solo tackle in the SB game. Was not even on the stat sheet for the GB game. Hell S. McLendon had 4 tackles in those same games. He was also 5yrs younger, he aint getting better w/ age.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Realistically, the Bucs have virtually no chance of making the Super Bowl. So, if the goal is to win the NFC South and a playoff game, you have to keep Vea. If not trade him. It impacts the ability to win the NFC South and insures no playoff win.
That being said, what would the Bucs get for Vea. A late 2nd round pick? Is that really worth it because if he leaves, they could get a comp pick.
If he sits out and if the Bucs cannot be above .500 by the bye (which is the trade deadline), trade him because the schedule gets real tough after the bye.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Nick2 Says:
August 5th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
My question is why is Dennis still running with the ones have we not seen enough of his lackluster play?
———————-
Because he’s not nearly as bad as “some people ” think he was ?
August 5th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Trade him for a late round two – the equivalent of a 3 for a Superbowl contender? That is a joke. For a team picking near then end of the round, it needs to be a 2 and a 3 – with no Bucs picks in return.
He might be disgruntled, but he isn’t stupid enough to play poorly knowing it would only hurt his future value. Give him a bump this year and tack on a year. You could always trade him to a team that thinks they’re close and desperate to make a superbowl run.
August 5th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
“Trade him, we won a SB without him. Before you say but he came back for the GB and Chiefs games.”
Stat line? JFC, just say you weren’t here for that run
August 5th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Trade Vea for as much as the FO can get in future draft picks… (2027 2nd and 4th round picks).
Then look externally for other NG options that might open up just before the end of camp – if the current rostered Bucs DT/NG options aren’t up to the challenge. There will be a few solid DT’s that end up roster crunch casualties around the league as teams make hard decisions late August.
IMO, Vea has been a 50% effort guy for 50% of the plays he is on the field. And at 31, there is no guarantee that he plays with more heart and effort after getting another fat check.
Yes, he’s a man-beast – when he wants to be…But he doesn’t seem to want to be that physically dominate DT each & every play. So for me, I’d ship his ass out ASAP should a team come calling for his services and makes a good (2027 draft capital) offer.
It opens up Cap Space for future dealings & would give the FO a few more options come next April.
August 5th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
This is taking a while longer than I thought….what are you doing Jason?
August 5th, 2026 at 2:36 pm
lol…we finally might have something special with Bain and maybe Walker and folks wanna ship out the 1 player that can collapse the pockets and take on double teams…
yeah, lets take 1 step forward and 2 steps back lol
Bain wont be able to do what he does best because teams will be running straight up the middle without vita…
get the deal done Licht
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 2:39 pm
@Jjuice32 – hit the nail on the head.
Think it’s an overhype to suggest this defense can’t work without him.
Not only the most recent Super Bowl run, but the collapse last year and the lackluster play by the defense, given Vea was a Team Captain, plays only 60% of the D snaps and has slowed down a tad in his giddy up certainly doesn’t scream we gotta have him or we’re doomed.
August 5th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Jjuice32 Says:
August 5th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Trade him, we won a SB without him. Before you say but he came back for the GB and Chiefs games. His stat line for those games, 1 solo tackle in the SB game.
without Vita collapsing the pocket, JPP & Shaq arent able to get after Rodgers or Mahomes…neither QB could step up in the pocket because of Vita
stop looking up stats and watch the game!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
813 and Warren quit glazing a guy that was out of shape, coming off a broken ankle for those 2 games. U so sure it wasn’t Suh that was the difference? Vea played about 32 snaps in each game. U mean to tell me Vea came back from a broken ankle and was the difference in those games when we see what an injury like that does to a player like CG , took him about a yr. to be CG again. Lets not forget like I said that was 5-6yrs ago!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
Don’t forget Kendell Beckwith, Joe!
August 5th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
Excellent take! Would love to see Trotter be able to perform at his best with Vea in front of him.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
I can see all that, but I still would not sign him to anything other than a two-year extension.
After that two-year extension, he’ll be 34 years old and he’s already been declining. Love the guy but a long-term deal on a part-time DT who’s been in the decline for two years while we watched the run support get less and less efficient, is not a good move.
If he doesn’t want that, get the absolute max value they possibly can out of a trade, which I think should be an early second and a fourth – maybe even a late first round
August 5th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
If Vita does go then they should also see what Capehart & Green can do, too!
August 5th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Joe, I have not heard you say anything about Capehart. Has he been doing anything in practice? I thought he was drafted to eventually replace Vea.
August 5th, 2026 at 4:45 pm
id rather see them pay vv than baker, vv would complete a pretty solid line, bakers just being a diva baby
August 5th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
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 5:13 pm
All you guys saying that Vita didn’t do anything the Super Bowl year, let me remind you that it was VITA who forced a fumble inside the 10 when Green Bay was about to score! You can argue that that was one of the most important plays of the game. And he was indeed dropped back in coverage too! (For all the Todd haters).