Is Quenton Nelson Deal A Window Into Vita Vea Trade Value?
October 28th, 2026
Eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson is an interesting figure in Tampa Bay history.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht probably would have drafted him in 2018 if Chris Godwin hadn’t caught a game-ending and game-winning touchdown pass to beat the Saints at the close of the 2017 season.
That meaningless “W” affected/hurt the Bucs’ draft position and Nelson went No. 6 overall to the Colts. The Bucs picked No. 7 overall and traded down to secure what became selections of defensive tackle Vita Vea (No. 12 overall) and Carlton Davis, cornerstones of the Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning defense.
And another piece of trade-down fruit from dealing the No. 7 pick netted safety Jordan Whitehead, another Super Bowl cog.
What a night it was for Licht!
Yesterday, Nelson was dealt to the Seahawks as part of a Colts firesale. Nelson only fetched a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Between his contract ending after this season and the Colts having little leverage, that’s apparently the best they could do.
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10. So what might Vita Vea fetch? He’s no potential Hall of Fame player like Nelson is, but Vea is under contract for next season and he’s a supreme talent.
Could Licht get the same deal for Vea? Joe would feel ok about making that deal.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Trade em all!
October 28th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
Vea is not gonna be traded – Godwin is not gonna be traded – nobody is gonna be traded – Jason Licht reads JBF and he sees all the optimistic fans in the comments predicting a NFC South title – he doesn’t want to let them down
October 28th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
Is this a super bowl team? Im sure you know the answer
October 28th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
In 10 years Licht has NEVER traded a player away mid-season and he’s only ever traded for one player mid-season.
Much ado about nothing.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
Vita is starting to return to form…..i wouldnt trade him…
now Winfield is a different story….
GO BUCS!!!!
October 28th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
its what we should do, but more than anything for salary cap reasons. The window has closed on all of our big money players who are over age 30.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Personally, I’d shop AWJ before he returns and people realize there are 2.5 Safeties already on the roster
October 28th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
2.5 BETTER safeties (Smith, Melifonwu, and Scott is my 0.5)
October 28th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
I think for a contending team, Vita would a valuable chess piece. We all know defense tends to be more dominant in the playoffs, so why not add a run stuffer who has the ability to occupy multiple blockers. Vita still has plenty of gas left in the tank and would be worth the cost for a team that thinks it is a player or two away from winning a Super Bowl. A third round 3rd would be fair.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
No one is getting traded. They better not.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
This isn’t a superbowl tram trade until we get the right players
October 28th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
A 3rd and 5th is not horrible for a guy sliding into 3rd base, career-wise.
October 28th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
Nah, alright to think about but no, because we’ll be paying Vita to play elsewhere and it’s not like he’s playing poorly nor do we have an adequate, proven replacement for him in the building rn.
October 28th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
All this trade talk Joe and everyone else on this post doing just shows how yall have given up on the season. Keep that same energy when we 4-5 going into the bye week. Well the team hasn’t gave up and that what matters #gobucs
October 28th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
Jason Licht traded Mark Barron to St Louis in 2014 right before the nfl trade deadline so yes, he has done it.
Vea is on the wrong side of 30 at that weight and he can actually fetch something valuable. We could probably even get a late third round pick if we send a 5 or 6 back.
After we get out of this brief pretend-hopeful-delusional period, trade him, Godwin and Diaby for the extra capital and play hurst and Walker. Those are valuable reps.
October 28th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
Joe’s articles all point to Bucs being Sellers…. Guess he is picking Falcons this week. Not me, Bucs should go 6-0 in divisional games.
This week Robinson and Mayfield should have axes to grind so fire the cannons and lets go.
October 28th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Trade Bowles straight up for a bag of steaming excrement. I know, we would be stealing at that point.
October 28th, 2026 at 2:23 pm
Only if the offer is too good to pass up… and that ain’t happening
October 28th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
If we beat Atlanta, they’re not going to trade away anybody.
October 28th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
Vita is the only player I would 100% trade. Despite what the players say, I think his holdout negatively impacted the team. Vita was supposed to act like a team captain, but instead he stood on the sideline like a pouting kid, – and was so out of shape that he’s only now impacting games.
October 28th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
Atlanta always seems to get up for the Bucs. Them knowing they could help kill our season like last years 3-28. They are going to be pumped. We are their Superbowl every year since they don’t have real one. Go Bucs!
October 28th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Talking about trading players while Bruce, Jason and Zach are still here angers me. Move the real problems first!!!!! We do not currently have a player problem. We have a management problem. They show their players less respect than they show us the fans.
October 28th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
McBay Says:
October 28th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Because all our players are performing up to their salary?
You’re just plain stupid.
October 28th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
“vita is starting to return to form.” Annnnd to that I say, SO F’ING WHAT. GOOD. Im glad he’s returning to form, you know why? So we can get max value out of him thats why. Are we going to win the superbowl this year? NO. Are we going to the NFC championship game? NO. WINNERS know when to offload guys and stock up on draft picks. Just how many 8-9 seasons do you guys want around here? Is it stockholm syndrone? What is some of you guys’ major malfunction.
October 28th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Comparing apples, to oranges. Nelson is a much more valuable player than Vea. I don’t see how their compensation can be the same.
October 28th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
If Panthers lose to Packers Thursday night and Bucs beat Falcons Sunday they are one-half game out of first with nine games to go. It is not fire sale time, by any stretch.
But the 49ers gave up a fourth for DeForest Buckner. That seems like a more relevant comparison.
October 28th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
I agree with Joe, we need draft capital, trade away
October 28th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
I remember that draft clearly. I was screaming to draft Josh Allen at 7 but all the Bucs “experts” though that was ridiculous because the Bucs had Winston.
October 28th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
Don’t trade Vea period we ain’t gonna get a player that good in the 3rd or 4th round .Who knows Licht may use the pick on a punter