New NFL Trade Rumors on Vita Vea Amid Bucs Training Camp Absence After Contract Talks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaches aren't sweating the impact of Vita Vea's trade request, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

"But as one person with the team told me, 'Talk to me in one to two weeks,'" Fowler said. "Translation: It would be nice to get him back by mid-August because he's central to the defense's success."

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported in July that Vea requested a trade after negotiations over an extension with Tampa Bay hit an impasse.

Fowler reported the two-time Pro Bowler "is very dug in here."

"For how long? That typically depends on a variety of factors, including a player's resolve with the threat of losing game checks approaching," the insider said. "That's hard to measure at this stage. But he currently has "zero" intention to play under his deal or without a trade, I'm told. The Bucs have no plans to trade him despite league interest. Something has to give."

As the 2023 season was kicking off, Chris Jones was absent along the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line. He brought his holdout to an end days after their opener.

Vea missing the season wouldn't be unprecedented. However, that's unlikely to happen due to the factors cited by Fowler.

Vea may not be happy with his current contract, which averages $17.8 million and expires at the end of the season, but being underpaid is better than not getting paid at all.

From the Bucs' perspective, the 31-year-old is too valuable to have him sitting at home when they're matching up with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Despite being a nose tackle, he was second on the team in sacks with 4.5 in 2025.

Jones ultimately settled for a reworked contract that allowed him to earn more than his original base salary in 2023. His big payout arrived the following offseason.

A short-term pact between Vea and the Buccaneers makes the most sense to resolve the ongoing situation. He'd get more money right now and open the door for himself to collect another sizable contract from Tampa Bay or another team.

At least for now, it sounds like neither side is willing to budge.