Vita Vea landing spots: Eight possible destinations for Buccaneers DT after trade request | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates
With contract talks stalled, Vita Vea has requested a trade.
A hole-plugging nose tackle, Vea might not be on your average fan’s bingo card, but he’s among the top defensive linemen in the NFL. His presence has single-handedly slowed running games, and the required attention he takes from offensive lines opens up the rest of the show.
It should be obvious: Literally all 32 teams could use a player of Vea’s caliber. The question is at age 31, how many years of dominance does he have left and how steep is the descent? When paying a player top-of-the-market money, that’s a fair question. It’s likely the reason the Bucs haven’t met his asking price. Vea is seeking a raise on the $18 million he’s set to earn in the final year of his contract, far below the top of the market in 2026 (Jeffery Simmons at $35.1 million).
While the other 31 GMs should at least check in on the price it’d take to acquire the two-time Pro Bowler (how he only has two Pro Bowls and zero All-Pros is beyond my comprehension), several fits are better than others.
Below are the eight most likely destinations for Vea in 2026:
