Falcons fans have had plenty to grin about when it comes to Tampa Bay this offseason, and the latest twist in the Bucs’ Vita Vea situation only adds to the fun.
What started as a quiet summer of ribbing has turned into a full-blown mess for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has already taken its hits in the eyes of Atlanta supporters, from the decision not to fire Todd Bowles to the hiring of Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator, and then the loss of Mike Evans in free agency. Now the drama has spilled into the front office, where extension talks with Vea have gone sideways.
According to the source, the 31-year-old defensive tackle requested a trade yesterday after negotiations stalled. Vea wants the pressure turned up on the Buccaneers to get a new deal done, but instead the situation has become public and awkward.
That’s the kind of development Falcons fans can’t help but enjoy. After Devonte Wyatt landed a contract extension worth $19 million a year from the Green Bay Packers, it looked like only a matter of time before Tampa Bay had to deal with Vea’s side of the market. The problem for the Bucs is that Vea appears to be aiming for a deal worth more than $20 million per year, and they still let it drag on.
Vea, a two-time Pro Bowler, skipped the Buccaneers’ mandatory minicamp and could keep holding in once training camp begins. The source also notes that the Cali native wants to return to the west coast, which could make a trade more likely if Tampa Bay can find a team willing to pay him big money on a new extension.
That’s the key detail here: any team trading for Vea would need to sign him right away. His current deal carries a $17.75 million average annual value, which ranks 19th among defensive tackles, and he’s in the final year of a four-year, $71 million extension.
For now, though, Tampa Bay’s attention is elsewhere. The Buccaneers are said to be more focused on extending Baker than sorting out Vea’s future, and that leaves Atlanta fans watching the whole thing unfold with a smile.
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