Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Vita Vea Requests Trade as Contract Negotiations Stall

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive tackle Vita Vea has requested a trade following unsuccessful contract extension talks. Vea, who played a key role in the Buccaneers’ 2021 Super Bowl win, is in the final year of his four-year, $71 million contract signed in 2022. This development comes after attempts to secure a contract extension throughout the offseason.

Vea, originally from California, has been linked to several West Coast teams. Among these are the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, and Los Angeles Rams. However, Rams head coach Sean McVay seemed to dismiss the idea of a trade during the “Up & Adams” show. McVay stated, “He’s a stud. I think that he is a great player that’s always been a problem to game plan against, but I think we feel good about our group right now.”

Despite McVay’s words, the Rams may still consider Vea to strengthen their roster. The team previously made a significant trade by acquiring Myles Garrett, twice named Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett set a new league record with 23 sacks across 17 games last season.

The Rams have veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford and a looming contract extension for Puka Nacua, which may reset the market for wide receivers. With their Super Bowl prospects, adding Vea might make sense. The Rams have also shown interest in former player Aaron Donald, indicating a willingness to enhance their defense further.

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Vea, at age 31, is coming off a season with the Buccaneers where he recorded 34 combined tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery over 17 games. Despite a down year, he has consistently achieved four or more sacks in the last five seasons. His Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade was 70.2, ranking him 20th among tackles. Additionally, he delivered 51 total pressures, the seventh-most in the NFL.

Adding Vea to a lineup with Garrett, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Braden Fiske, Omar Speights, and Nate Landman would create a formidable front seven for the Rams. The main consideration is whether the Rams are prepared to trade assets and provide Vea with the long-term contract he seeks.