Not long ago, the thought of Vita Vea playing for a team other than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was inconceivable. 

However, a nasty contract dispute this offseason resulted in Vea requesting a trade. While the organization refused and eventually gave Vea a lucrative new contract, the idea of the star defensive tackle and the Bucs parting ways no longer seemed far-fetched. 

With Tampa starting the season 1-5 and residing in last place in the NFC South, trading Vea has become more likely than ever. 

The NFL trade deadline is less than three weeks away on November 10. Unless the Bucs can make up significant ground in the division over the next three games, the smart move would be to become sellers at the deadline. 

The Bucs have several players who could bring back a substantial return in a trade. Adding valuable draft capital is a great way to jump-start a rebuild. 

Vea is one of the players Tampa could look to move before the deadline. Several teams would be interested in Vea if the Bucs made him available. 

There would have been a robust market for Vea if the team had traded him this offseason, and even more teams could be interested now that he is signed through next season as well. 

I included Vea on my list of four Bucs who could be on the move before the trade deadline. 

It looks like more folks are coming to the same conclusion. 

Dan Graziano of ESPN named Vea as a “sleeper” name to watch as the deadline approaches. 

Despite the contract extension Tampa gave Vea before the season, Graziano doesn't believe it was a sign that the Bucs still have Vea in their long-term plans. He thinks plenty of teams that need help along their defensive line would love to add Vea.

"The Buccaneers are 1-5. Vea is 31 years old, and he and the team begrudgingly came to a compromise agreement on his contract during training camp. The Bucs didn't act as if he was part of their long-term future, and if teams come looking for a big, run-stuffing defensive tackle, Tampa would be silly not to listen. He is on a minimum salary this year and is guaranteed $23 million for 2027, which would rank about 15th in terms of cap numbers for defensive tackles in the league. If you need interior D-line help right now and don't mind paying Vea $23 million next season at age 32, why not call to see what it would take to get him out of Tampa?"

The idea of trading Vea is a sad one, but it may be the best course of action for the organization.

When the Bucs gave Vea and Baker Mayfield new contracts before the season, it was a sign the team was expecting to win now, not have their season be lost before Halloween.

If Tampa is about to go through a rebuild, Vea's contract does them no good. He could also bring back a significant return that would help the Bucs acquire even more young talent.

Unless Tampa goes on a run and makes up a lot of ground in the division, expect several players to be dealt before the deadline.

Of all the players who might be on the move, trading Vea might make the most sense.