Supply: Vita Vea has requested a commerce from the Bucs.
Vea was in attendance for Bucs obligatory mini-camp again in June, however didn’t take part. It was thought of a “hold in” as he was searching for a brand new contract, however didn’t wish to get fined for his absence. Vea was in good spirits then as he may very well be seen smiling and chopping it up with teammates, however clearly the tune has modified with coaching camp set to begin however no new contract to go together with it.
Vita Vea Requests Commerce From Bucs As Different DTs Get Paid
Vea is on the final 12 months of his contract, the place he’s set to make round $17.75 million. He’s the nineteenth highest paid inside defensive lineman within the league, which clearly he’s extra precious than that. Vea has been essential to the Bucs’ success through the years, profitable a Tremendous Bowl with the workforce as some of the dominant defensive linemen within the league.
Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
It didn’t assist Tampa Bay both that Titans defensive deal with Jeffrey Simmons inked a three-year, $105.8 million deal in June whereas the Packers signed Devonte Wyatt to a three-year, $57 million deal final week. Different gamers are getting paid whereas Vea enters a season of uncertainty.
Proving Vea’s significance much more final season, Vea needed to choose up the slack with Calijah Kancey getting injured in Week 2 and never returning till Week 18. He posted 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits whereas enjoying in all 17 video games. And he did all of it on the age of 30.
The age is the place the issue is available in. Vea will probably be 32 in early February, only a week earlier than the Tremendous Bowl. As nice as Vea has been for Tampa Bay by the years, it’s powerful to commit long run to a participant at that age enjoying a place that calls for rather a lot bodily. It’s an enormous danger for the Buccaneers to present that sort of cash to a participant who may see a speedy decline as his age goes up.
From Vea’s perspective, he has greater than earned the large pay day to be close to the highest of the best paid defensive tackles within the league. It’s doubtless the final time he’ll get as profitable of a contract as he’s searching for, and he must make it occur if he can.
Bucs DT Vita Vea and Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The final time the Bucs handled a commerce request, it got here from beginning inside linebacker Devin White, who was additionally going right into a contract 12 months. The workforce denied this request and White later regretted asking for a commerce within the first place. He completed out the season in Tampa Bay however then left in free company.
It is a completely different scenario with Vea. He’s extra established and is vitally vital to what Tampa Bay does defensively, particularly with stopping the run.
Report: Vea Would Like To Go To The West Coast
Based on Ted Nguyen of The Athletic, Vea want to head someplace in California or for the Las Vegas Raiders. Vea grew up in California and performed school soccer on the College Of Washington, so he has primarily been on the west coast in addition to coming to Tampa.
Raiders basic supervisor John Spytek was previously the assistant basic manger of the Bucs, so he has an amazing relationship with Jason Licht and may very well be thinking about Vea contemplating he is aware of him properly.
Fox Sports activities’ Greg Auman has since posted a report that conflicts with Nguyen’s, saying Vea’s agent stated his consumer has not made any particular requests so far as the place he would wish to go. Relatively, the request is just for a commerce if he’s not getting an extension past this season.
Bucs DTs Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
If no deal can get executed with Vita Vea, it might be a colossal loss to the Bucs line of defense. Calijah Kancey can also be essential to this workforce, however he has an harm historical past. A’Shawn Robinson is a veteran fast repair, as is Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Tampa Bay does have youth alongside the road as properly with Elijah Roberts going into his second 12 months and DeMonte Capehart being drafted this season.
In a season that’s about to start with shifting on from different legends like Mike Evans and Lavonte David, it may very well be Vea who’s subsequent to depart the group. We’ll see the way it all performs out.
