Buccaneers DT Vita Vea Seeking New Contract?

When asked about Vea’s absence today, Bowles noted that it wasn’t necessary to get a look at the veteran during a no-pads practice. However, the head coach also acknowledged that Vea isn’t injured.

Vea inked a four-year, $73MM extension to stick in Tampa Bay back in 2022. While that deal once placed the Pro Bowler towards the top of the positional rankings, Vea’s $17.75MM average annual value now ranks outside the top-15 among interior defenders. The 2026 campaign is set to represent Vea’s age-31 season, so he may be hard pressed to climb up the leaderboard. Still, an extension would provide him with the long-term security he doesn’t currently possess.

The former first-round pick has continued to produce throughout his current contract, with Pro Football Focus consistenly ranking him among the top-20 at his position. This past year, the site ranked him 18th among 127 qualifying interior defenders, with Veta tallying 34 stops and 4.5 sacks.

The Buccaneers will continue to be reliant on Veta next season. Logan Hall is no longer around after joining the Texans in free agency, but Tampa Bay will welcome back Calijah Kancey from injury. The team will also add free agent acquisition A’Shawn Robinson to the lineup. The Buccaneers added DeMonte Capehart in the fifth round of this year’s draft, but the team otherwise hasn’t done a whole lot to address the future of the NT position.