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...
Saints Make A Surprising Secondary Cut Fans Didn't See Coming
The Saints trimmed their roster to 53 by waiving safety Terrell Burgess, a move that stood out because he had been part of the defense throughout the season and appeared in all 16 games last year. Burgess brought veteran depth to the secondary, and his release fit a larger picture in New Orleans as the team continues reshaping the back end of the defense.
Burgess is reportedly a candidate to return on the practice squad, which would keep him in the building if the Saints want his experience available. Even so, the decision points to a clear youth movement in the defensive backfield, with younger players expected to handle bigger roles as the team settles its roster. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Roster Cuts Begin As Familiar Depth Faces Uncertain Future
The roster trimming has begun in New Orleans, and the Saints have started making the hard calls that come with getting down to the NFLs 53-man limit. On Monday, the team waived 10 players as part of the cutdown process, with most of the moves affecting familiar names who had either spent time on the practice squad or had only limited exposure with the club.
For a team trying to sort out the bottom of the roster, these decisions are rarely final in the way they first appear. The players now enter the waiver process and still have a path back to the Saints practice squad if they go unclaimed, which keeps a small window open as the deadline approaches and the last pieces of the roster picture come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans Can Now See What That Deion Jones Trade Really Was
What looked like a small late-summer move between the Saints and 49ers has already turned into one of those preseason transactions that says more about roster juggling than long-term plans. New Orleans sent linebacker Deion Jones to San Francisco for running back Zamir White, a swap made to help each team cover a need for the final exhibition games rather than a deal built around a permanent fit.
Neither side ended up carrying the move beyond the preseason finale, with both players released by their new teams afterward. For Saints fans, the more interesting part may be what comes next for Jones, who could still circle back to the 49ers through the practice squad if San Francisco wants to keep him in the building a little longer. [Read more 🡒]