Buccaneers, Vita Vea Still In Talks

While that group has cashed in recently, Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea has not joined in on the fun. Vea, who is going into the last season of the four-year, $73MM extension he signed in 2022, has been seeking a new deal for at least several weeks.

The two-time Pro Bowler has fallen to 21st among D-tackles in average annual value ($17.75MM, per Over the Cap), which isn’t going to suffice. In an effort to move the process along, Vea held in during mandatory minicamp in June, requested a trade in late July and has not participated in training camp practices. Vea tweaked his back at the outset of camp, though this nonetheless appears to be a hold-in.

Collin Roberts, Vea’s agent, suggested last week this standoff will end in a trade. But that’s not going to happen, according to Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, who said over the weekend that he has “no plans” to move Vea. Licht added that he and Roberts had recently engaged in talks.

Updating the situation on Wednesday morning, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported the Buccaneers and Vea’s camp remain in communication. As long as that’s the case, there is hope an extension will come together. Regarding Vea’s asking price, Garafolo said he senses that the 6-foot-4, 347-pounder is seeking a “fair” payday, not necessarily one that would put him at the top of the market.

The richest AAV (and the largest contract in the history of the position) belongs to Carter, who inked a four-year, $152MM deal worth $38MM per annum in late July. Vea will not approach those figures, but the 31-year-old’s track record suggests he should not be making less than half of what Carter is pulling in on an annual basis. As Garafolo pointed out, Vea put up sack and pressure numbers similar to or better than Williams, Lawrence, Simmons and Carter from 2024-25. That caught the attention of Vea, who posted a shrugging emoji on X in response to Garafolo. It was the first time Vea posted on X since last September.

Although Vea is clearly dissatisfied with his financial standing among interior D-linemen, the Bucs remain unwilling to meet his demands. As the season draws closer, the stalemate between the team and one of its all-time great defenders continues.