Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea has requested a trade, an NFL insider revealed Monday, with the player reportedly favoring a move to a West Coast team. The request comes six weeks before the start of the new NFL season and amid ongoing contract negotiations.
According to The Athletic's Ted Nguyen, Vea's preferred destinations include teams based in California, such as the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and the San Francisco 49ers, as well as the Las Vegas Raiders. Vea was a first-round draft pick in 2018 and is entering the final year of his four-year contract, with an $18 million salary for the upcoming season.
Despite Vea's trade request, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay appeared to dismiss the possibility of his team pursuing the defensive tackle. When asked about the Rams' interest, McVay stated, "He's a stud. I think he's a great player who has always been a problem to game plan against but I think we feel great about our group right now."
Vea, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has been a key player for the Buccaneers' defense since being drafted out of Washington. He was part of the team that won Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021. Vea did not participate in the team's spring program due to the contract standoff but was present for the first day of training camp on Tuesday. Bucs coach Todd Bowles had previously described Vea as unique, stating "there's nobody like" him before last season.
In a separate contract development, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has also opted to play out the final year of his contract without an extension. Talks between Mayfield and the team executives had been ongoing for several months, but as of Tuesday, no new deal was in place. Mayfield is entering the final year of his contract after a career resurgence with the Buccaneers following previous stints with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Rams.