There’s Hope With Vita Vea

It’s been looking bleak as of late with the news coming out about Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea wanting out.

The two sides couldn’t reach a contract extension agreement, and now Vea wants a trade. NFL.com senior news writer Kevin Patra, however, threw a line of hope for Buccaneers fans. Patra listed the Buccaneers as one of Vea’s potential destinations.

“Let’s be clear; trade requests are usually the next step in the negotiating process,” Patra wrote. “Sometimes they do lead to trades (see: Micah Parsons), but more often, sides figure things out.”

“Money can smooth things over. The ideal scenario for Tampa is the Bucs rework Vea’s contract, giving him a pay bump but not stringing it out too far down the road, which could hamstring them later, particularly with Baker Mayfield still waiting to get paid,” Patra added.

After all, the Buccaneers have paid former star wide receiver Mike Evans and current star wideout Chris Godwin in the past. General manager Jason Licht can keep star players on board, and that may be the case here with Vea.

“In a winnable NFC South, the Bucs are in striking distance of a potentially deep playoff run,” Patra wrote. “Todd Bowles’ defense can be premier if the pieces remain healthy, but sans Vea, it doesn’t have nearly the same upside.”

Extending and keeping Vea is the difference between the Buccaneers winning big or sinking in 2026.