New Vita Vea Trade Rumors Update Potential NFL Landing Spots Amid Bucs Contract Standoff

Teams including the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers have inquired about Vita Vea's availability amid his ongoing contract dispute with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Friday.

Other teams in addition to the Bills, Bears and 49ers have also reached out, according to Garafolo.

Garafolo reported the Buccaneers have so far "remained steadfast they're not trading [Vea] and have kept the lines of communication open on a potential new deal."

Vea requested a trade in July after contract talks stalled and has been attending but not participating in training camp.

Garafolo reported back in June that Vea was sitting out of practices during offseason sessions including mandatory minicamp due to contract-related reasons.

The trade request came after the Bucs and Vea failed to negotiate a long-term extension the following month, according to Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.

General manager Jason Licht has remained firm since then the Bucs don't plan on trading Vea, although Vea's agent Collin Roberts told the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud earlier this month he didn't see the situation "ending in anything but a trade at this point."

The Bills could be looking for help at defensive tackle after Phidarian Mathis received a three-game suspension that will keep him out of regular-season action until Sept. 28.

The Bears may be looking for veteran interior defensive line support with Jordan ven den Berg potentially set to play a significant role in his rookie season.

The 49ers might look for similar help after as defensive tackle Alfred Collins makes his return from offseason shoulder surgery.

Vea is currently signed through this season on a deal that ranks 16th among all defensive tackles, according to Over the Cap.

The market is currently led by the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Carter, who set a positional record when he agreed to an extension with an annual average value of $38 million this July.

Whether the Bucs are willing to offer Vea something closer to the top of the market could impact how seriously Licht ultimately takes any of these reported trade offers before his team kicks off the regular season Sept. 13.