Tampa Bay’s defensive front has a major storyline hanging over it as Vita Vea has requested a trade, according to his agent, who told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The request comes after contract extension talks didn’t get across the finish line, and Vea is now in the final season of his deal. He is set to make $18 million this year.
The market for interior defensive linemen has already been pushed higher this offseason. Tennessee Titans standout Jeffery Simmons landed a three-year, $105.8-million extension, while the Cincinnati Bengals gave Dexter Lawrence a one-year, $28-million extension after acquiring him from the New York Giants in April.
Vea did not take part in Tampa Bay’s spring program. Garafolo added that he is expected to be around for training camp, but whether he actually participates is still up in the air.
At 31, Vea has already built a strong résumé. He has been to two Pro Bowls in his eight-year career and was part of the Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl LV.
The 6-foot-4, 347-pound tackle put up 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits in 2025. A year earlier, he set a career high with seven sacks in 2024.
His impact has been felt well beyond the stat sheet. Tampa Bay has finished with a top-five run defense in six of the last seven seasons, and Vea’s presence in the middle at nose tackle has been a big reason why.
The Buccaneers selected Vea 12th overall in 2018.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Camp Could End Badly For One Young Player Fans Expected More From
With training camp set to open July 28, the Buccaneers are heading into one of those summer stretches where the back end of the roster can change quickly. Tampa Bay has a handful of jobs worth watching, from the third quarterback spot to rotational edge rusher and cornerback, and the competition should give the staff a first real look at how much depth it can count on once the pads come on.
The quarterback battle has Connor Bazelak as the incumbent with Jalon Daniels pushing behind him, while Anthony Nelson appears to be the early favorite in the edge rotation with David Walker and Chris Braswell in the mix. Braswell, in particular, needs a strong camp to keep himself in the conversation, because this is the kind of competition where one quiet August can turn a promising young player into a roster casualty before the season ever starts. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield Opens Up About The Mindset Behind His Bucs Comeback
Baker Mayfields resurgence in Tampa Bay has already become one of the more compelling storylines in the Buccaneers recent run, but the quarterbacks latest reflections add another layer to it. After a rough stretch that followed his exit from Cleveland and a difficult 2022 season, Mayfield has talked openly about how much of his turnaround has been tied to mental resilience and leaning on the people around him.
For Mayfield, the comeback has not just been about rediscovering his arm talent or fitting into a new offense. It has also been about being willing to ask for help and accept vulnerability, a mindset he says has mattered in both his career and personal life. After reviving himself in Tampa Bay and earning a Pro Bowl nod, he sounds like a player who understands that the next challenge may be less about proving he belongs and more about sustaining the balance that got him here. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Camp Suddenly Has Real Pressure On These Young Contributors
The Buccaneers have spent camp leaning into youth, and that has put a sharper spotlight on the rookies and second-year players who may have to help sooner than expected. Rueben Bain Jr. has stood out as a pass-rushing fit for Todd Bowles defense, with the staff encouraged by how efficiently he has picked things up, while Ted Hurst III is getting a real look as a receiver who could help soften the loss of Mike Evans and give the offense another layer of flexibility.
Benjamin Morrison is the other name hanging over this push toward the future, because Tampa Bay needs young contributors to be available as much as it needs them to be talented. The cornerbacks development matters to a secondary that can use every healthy body it can get, and camp has made it clear that the Bucs youth movement is not just about upside, but about who can actually stay on the field and handle the pressure that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]