The Buccaneers have locked in one of the most imposing pieces on their defensive front, and they did it with serious money. Tampa Bay signed DT Vita Vea to a one-year extension worth $30 million, with $46 million in guarantees and $28 million in new money guarantees, according to Over The Cap.
The deal also includes a $21.7 million signing bonus. Vea’s $1.3 million base salary in 2026 and $23 million base salary in 2027 are both fully guaranteed at signing, and he can add up to $1 million each year through per-game active roster bonuses. The contract also carries three void years for salary cap purposes.
In Carolina, Tre’von Moehrig is making it clear he knows exactly what kind of player he is, even after last offseason’s joint-practice dustup with the Texans. Moehrig set off a scuffle then after delivering a hard hit on WR Xavier Hutchinson, and with the Jaguars coming to practice, he said he isn’t looking for trouble - but he isn’t changing his approach either.
“I’m not gonna say I’m just gonna go out there and cause a fight. I’m not looking to do any of that,” Moehrig said, via Joseph Person of The Athletic.
“But definitely when it’s a different opponent, you don’t have that kind of relationship or bond with those kinds of guys. So if it gets hostile, it gets hostile.
If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I’m gonna still do my job at the end of the day and be physical and play my play style.
We’ll see what happens.”
Panthers HC Dave Canales said that kind of edge is exactly why the team wanted him.
“That’s why he’s here. We just loved his play style coming out of Las Vegas,” Canales said.
“Playing on the edge in the run game, the blitz ability, in the back half disrupting passes with his physicality. And just the tireless, relentless way that he plays with.”
Panthers DC Ejiro Evero said Moehrig has gone a little too far at times, including a couple of moments in 2025 training camp, but he also made it plain that the safety’s style isn’t changing.
“There’s been a couple of moments in training camp last year where he probably went over the line,” Evero said. “But the thing about Tre’von, he doesn’t say much.
He’s very quiet and he keeps to himself. He’s always got a nice smile on his face, so you can assume that he’s a really nice guy, and he is.
But he’s a killer on the field, and he’s never gonna shy away from contact.”
In New Orleans, Tyler Shough is heading into the second year of his career with a second-round label from 2025 and a mindset that leaves no room for comfort. The Saints quarterback said he’s constantly pushing toward a better version of himself and holding himself to a high bar.
“I feel like I’m chasing this version of myself, this better version of myself where I feel like I hold myself to a really high standard,” Shough said, via Jeff Howe of The Athletic. “How can I continue to elevate and get better every single day?”
He also brushed off any concern about not getting much spotlight as a starting quarterback.
“I don’t really have any qualms with being under the radar or not highlighted a bunch,” Shough said. “That’s not why I’m here, or why I’m doing it.”
Shough added that he’s always played with a chip on his shoulder and said he appreciates the road that got him to the NFL after dealing with multiple injuries in college.
In Other News...
Panthers Just Made Cutdown Day Tougher At One Key Position
The Panthers closed the preseason at 3-1, and the record only tells part of the story. What stood out most was how much depth Carolina seemed to uncover on the defensive side, along with encouraging work from players such as Feleipe Franks and Jimmy Horn Jr. as the roster began to take shape.
Wide receiver may end up being one of the trickiest calls of cutdown day. Several pass catchers made positive cases for themselves in August, giving the Panthers a genuinely crowded conversation at a spot where every final decision matters and the margin for error is thin. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers End Preseason With One Reason Fans Should Feel Better
The Panthers closed the preseason with a 16-13 home win over the Texans, and the box score looked a lot like what you would expect from a final tune-up in late August. Most of the work came from backups, the game stayed tight and points were hard to come by, but Carolina still left with a 3-1 preseason mark and a little more confidence heading into the real thing.
Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask both got snaps, with Trask helping steady the offense through the air, while Miles Davis supplied the touchdown in a game shaped more by defense and field goals than big plays. The more encouraging sign for Carolina may have been what happened on the other side of the ball, where the Panthers limited Houston to 173 total yards and looked more like a team ready to carry some preseason momentum forward. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Preseason Win Just Made Several Roster Battles Tougher
The Panthers preseason win over the Texans did more than add another positive result to August. It gave the coaching staff one more live look at a handful of players fighting for jobs, and the defensive side of the ball had some performances that made the evaluation a little more complicated. Jared Harrison-Hunte flashed as a pass-rush presence, Trevin Wallace also made his mark with pressure, and the overall tape offered enough encouraging moments to keep several names in the conversation as the roster cut deadline approaches.
Peter Hansens role added another wrinkle to the night. With the linebackers coach handling defensive play-calling instead of the usual coordinator style, the game had a slightly different feel for a unit trying to sort out roles and responsibilities on the fly. For some backups, the inconsistency only made the path tougher, while for others the opportunity to stand out in a crowded competition was exactly what they needed. [Read more 🡒]