The two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle held in at mandatory minicamp last month amid the contract dispute and now wants out of Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been faced with some major decisions this offseason on who to keep and who to let walk.
That has led to some contract frustration among several Bucs and has now boiled over into one of their best defensive players requesting a trade.
Star two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea has requested a trade after their extension talks stalled as he enters the final year of a four-year, $71 million deal.
There were some warning signs of the situation brewing over back at minicamp as things were building for weeks ahead of Vea’s request on Monday.
Despite head coach Todd Bowles downplaying any concerns at the time, Vea held in at the team’s mandatory minicamp due to the dispute.
Clearly, there was some weight to Vea’s move.
There’s a bit of urgency with the team nearing training camp with veterans set to report on Tuesday.
To read more about the shocker out of Tampa Bay, here’s the full story from Bucs Roundtable writer Matthew Feldman.
It’s understandable why Vea is requesting more security as his contract offers little heading into the final year of it. None of the $17 million he’s set to earn this season is guaranteed.
He has a per-game roster bonus that is capped out at $1 million total, not adding much upside or leverage to the deal from Vea’s perspective.
As the situation boils over, it might warn towards potential future trouble in Tampa with quarterback Baker Mayfield also looking for an extension heading into the last year of a three-year, $100 million deal.
Mayfield has made it clear that the sides are far apart but that negotiations will end once training camp begins.
For now, the Bucs have a real void on their interior line.
Vea played in all 17 games last season and totaled 34 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, and 4.5 sacks.
