Vita Vea’s future in Tampa Bay suddenly looks shaky.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the veteran defensive tackle has asked the Buccaneers for a trade after contract talks stalled. Vea is in the final year of the four-year, $71 million deal he signed with Tampa Bay in 2022, and with free agency approaching, he had hoped to land a new contract before training camp. Instead, the sides never got there.
The 31-year-old has spent his entire eight-year career with the Buccaneers. Since being drafted in the first round in 2018, he has played in 112 games, earned two Pro Bowl nods and established himself as one of the league’s top defensive tackles. If Tampa Bay decides to move him, there should be no shortage of interest.
Ted Nguyen of The Athletic reported that Vea would prefer a trade to a team in his home state of California, and he would also be open to joining the Raiders. Without a no-trade clause, though, the Buccaneers are not required to send him anywhere specific. Still, those California teams, along with Las Vegas, would appear to have the best chance of keeping him beyond this season if a deal happens.
One obvious fit is the Raiders. Even after spending heavily on defense in free agency and welcoming Maxx Crosby back after the agreed-upon trade with the Ravens fell through, Las Vegas could still use help at nose tackle. Right now, veteran Adam Butler is projected to open the season as the starter there, and Vea would be a clear upgrade.
The money, of course, is the tricky part. The Raiders have a little more than $14 million in cap space, so they would need to clear room to make a move, especially if they want to work out a long-term extension.
Vea is due $18 million in 2026 before hitting unrestricted free agency next offseason, so a reworked deal could make sense for both sides. General manager John Spytek knows Vea well from their time together in Tampa Bay, which could make this one worth watching.
San Francisco also checks a lot of boxes. A move to the 49ers would put Vea in his home state while giving the team a major boost up front.
The 49ers’ defensive line was battered by injuries last season, and starting nose tackle Alfred Collins is set to open camp on the PUP list while recovering from a shoulder injury. With $71 million in cap space, San Francisco has the flexibility to absorb Vea’s contract and possibly strike a long-term extension, too.
Pairing him with Nick Bosa, who is back after missing all but three games last season, would give the 49ers a much more dangerous front.
Chicago is another team that makes sense on the field, even if the finances are tougher. The Bears allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game last season at 134.5, and they could look to upgrade over Grady Jarrett at defensive tackle.
Vea would help there, and he’d also strengthen a defensive line that struggled badly in both pass rush win rate at 29% and run stop win rate at 29%, according to ESPN. He posted 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 34 total tackles last season.
The challenge for the Bears is cap space. They have only $8 million left, so making a deal work would take some serious maneuvering. Even so, if Chicago wants to push toward championship contention, Vea would fill one of its biggest needs.
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