The Buccaneers’ early-season slide made them look like obvious trade-deadline sellers. At 1-5, they were buried while the rest of the NFC South watched from above. But two wins later, Tampa Bay has climbed to 3-5 and suddenly sits within range of the division lead.
That shift changes everything.
What once looked like a roster headed for a deadline sell-off now looks like a team with little incentive to move out core pieces, especially with the NFC South still there for the taking. And that’s why Vita Vea’s name has become such a tricky one to navigate.
Vea had drawn serious trade interest, but a deal for the star defensive tackle would be tough to pull off for more than one reason. As The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones put it, “Vea signed a one-year, $30 million contract extension in August after protracted negotiations.
It would be unusual for the team to deal him less than three months later,” Jones writes. “In the NFC South, furthermore, you’re always in it.”
That extension matters. Tampa Bay went through the work to lock Vea in for $30 million this offseason, and moving him now would only make sense if the season had completely gone off the rails.
For a stretch, that seemed possible. Then the Buccaneers won two big games and showed real life on the ground, running the ball incredibly well in both.
Now the picture is different. Jason Licht does not appear eager to ship out a foundational player like Vea while the Buccaneers are still in the hunt.
There is, however, one price point that could change the conversation. Jones noted, “I don’t think Tampa Bay would turn down a first-round pick for Vea.”
That kind of offer would be hard for any team to ignore, even for a beloved player like Vea. A first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft would be well beyond his trade value, and if a desperate contender put that on the table, Tampa Bay might have to listen.
But that’s the key point: it would take something that strong to even get the Buccaneers to seriously consider it. Barring an offer they can’t refuse, Vea looks likely to stay put as Tampa Bay pushes into Week 9 with a real shot at the NFC South.
In Other News...
Bucky Irving Faces A Run Defense That Could Define The Bucs
Bucky Irving has become a central piece of Tampa Bays rushing attack, giving the Buccaneers a more reliable ground game and helping balance an offense that has leaned on his burst and efficiency. He has averaged 5.0 yards per carry and has turned in multiple 100-yard games recently, a stretch that has made the run game look more like a strength than a supplement.
The next test comes against Chicago, and it is the kind of matchup that can say a lot about where this offense really stands. The Bears are giving up very few rushing yards overall, but they have been more vulnerable on a per-carry basis, and Tampa Bays improved offensive line will have to sort out a defensive front featuring players such as Devin Bush and Jeffery Simmons if Irving is going to keep the momentum going. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Backfield Suddenly Has A Sunday Night Fantasy Twist
Sunday nights matchup between the Buccaneers and Bears has a DFS feel to it, with the game setting up as the kind of spot where one overlooked role player can swing a lineup. Tampa Bays backfield is part of that conversation because Bucky Irving is drawing attention again, while the other side brings a running back in Kenny Gainwell who has quietly become relevant in the same conversation. Even the kickers are in play here, which says plenty about how tight this one could be from a fantasy standpoint.
Chase McLaughlin is getting a look as a captain option, and Cairo Santos belongs on the short list as well given the way both teams have been producing value through the kicking game. There is also room for Rome Odunze to matter if his usage keeps trending the right way, especially with the red-zone opportunities that can turn a modest snap count into a DFS difference-maker. For Buccaneers fans, the bigger question is whether this game stays in the range where the backfield and the special teams can decide more than the headline names. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers About To Face Chicago's Toughest Test Yet
Sunday nights matchup with Chicago comes with a little more intrigue than the usual prime-time measuring stick, because the Bears are being framed as a team that could push Tampa Bay in ways few opponents have managed this season. The case for Chicago starts with its defense, where Jeffery Simmons is being projected for a disruptive night up front, and it extends to a Bears offense that could finally find some rhythm against a Buccaneers unit that has generally been hard to crack.
The bigger question is whether Tampa Bay can answer with its own identity intact, especially if the Bears turn this into a game where the Bucs are forced out of their comfort zone. Colston Loveland is also being pegged for his best outing of the year, which would only add to the pressure on a Buccaneers defense already facing a tough test, and the outcome may hinge on whether Chicago can keep Bucky Irving from getting loose on the ground. [Read more 🡒]