Buccaneers clear $7.6M in cap space by restructuring Vita Vea's contract

“The Bucs restructured the 2022 base salary of NT Vita Vea, source said, creating $7.64M worth of cap space,” Rapoport reported.

Vea just signed a four-year, $71 million contract extension with the team in January. In the first year of his new deal, he was set to make a base salary of $10.6 million, via Pro Football Talk. Now a majority of that will be handed over to the 27-year-old in a lump sum signing bonus check.

Over four seasons in Tampa Bay, the 2018 first-round pick has racked up 106 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 31 quarterback hits. In 2021, the former Washington University standout earned his first trip to the NFL Pro Bowl.

Buccaneers push to get under salary cap before start of NFL free agency on March 16

The move helps the Bucs as they continue to slowly work their way toward getting under the salary cap before March 16. Several players who were key in the team earning a Super Bowl championship in 2021 will be unrestricted free agents next week, including star tight end Rob Gronkowski, and defensive line leaders Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre Paul.

This all comes on the heels of franchise QB Tom Brady’s decision to call it a career and retire earlier this year following two seasons in Florida.