Vita Vea reportedly wanted out earlier this offseason, requesting a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but get this: there’s now a “shift” toward optimism he might actually sign an extension in Tampa. ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped that bombshell on the Pat McAfee Show, saying it feels like we’ve gone from Vea wanting a trade to him now wanting to try and get a deal done. This could mean everything for the Bucs’ defensive front.
Still Not Stepping On The Field Without a Deal
Despite the new optimism, don’t expect to see Vea on the field quite yet. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Vea still “does not plan to step on the field in pads without a new contract.” The dude is serious about getting paid. He’s been holding in during mandatory minicamp and training camp, present but not participating in drills. Schefter thinks the two sides will “eventually… figure it out” and Vea will stay in Tampa, but the clock is ticking. Remember, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported Vea’s trade request way back on July 27 after extension talks stalled. Vea’s current contract runs through the 2026 season, and it only ranks 17th among all defensive tackles, according to Over the Cap. You can’t blame him for wanting a bump, can you?
Coach Bowles Is Holding His Breath
So, what’s a head coach to do? Buccaneers GM Jason Licht has stayed totally adamant that he has no plans of trading Vea, even though Fowler says there’s been “pretty heavy” trade interest from other teams. Head coach Todd Bowles admitted Tuesday he’s “never comfortable playing without him,” but added, “I’ve played without him before.” When asked if he expected Vea to join drills, Bowles kept it vague, saying, “We’ll probably talk next week. Right now, everything is ongoing.” The Bucs are heading into Saturday’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs with Vea still on the sideline. Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, who’s also playing this season on an expiring contract after his own failed extension talks, is set to play in that game. If Vea misses the Chiefs game, he’s only got one more shot, an August 28 preseason matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, before the Buccaneers kick off their regular season on September 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Let’s hope they get this locked down before real football starts!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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