Vita Vea requests trade from the Buccaneers

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Jul 27, 2026

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla.— Prior to last season, when discussing players Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans will be talking about 50 years from now, Todd Bowles said that Vita Vea is the one player on defense he could not replace.

“There’s nobody like him,” Bowles said.

But the Bucs head coach may have no choice but to find another starting defensive tackle after Vea requested a trade from the only team he has played for, according to his agent, Collin Roberts, on Monday.

“Yes, he’s requested a trade,” Roberts said in a text to the Tampa Bay Times.

Vea, 31, is in the final year of a four-year, $71 million contract he signed in 2023. His averages $17.75 million per year, which ranks 19th at defensive tackle.

Bucs veterans report to training camp on Tuesday.

Vea did not participate in the mandatory minicamp or organized team activities this offseason. He was a hold-in for the minicamp but Bowles said: “It’s not concerning. We’ve been through it before. It’s part of the business.”

When asked if he was confident that a resolution could be reached prior to the start of training camp, Bowles said, “I could not tell you that.”

Vea’s trade request comes amid the Bucs facing a deadline by the start of training camp to reach a contract extension with Baker Mayfield that was imposed by their quarterback prior to minicamp.

The 6-foot-4, 347-pound Vea has been at the center of the Bucs defense since he was drafted in the first round out of Washington in 2018.

He helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl 55 championship win over the Chiefs and is a two-time Pro Bowl player.

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