Former Bucs defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has close ties to each party involved with the recent Vita Vea trade request from Tampa Bay. Suh and Vea formed a close-knit relationship during Suh’s time in Tampa from 2019 to 2021, winning a Super Bowl together in 2020 The duo have worked out together regularly in the offseason – even with Suh’s playing career over, as Vea typically will visit Suh out in Oregon.

Suh, considered one of the best defensive tackles in the game when in his prime, has also made a name for himself in the financial world. He has often given advice to younger players about how to best handle their money while in the league and has been very vocal about new financial projects he’s been working on. His “No Free Lunch” Podcast talks more about finances than it does football for good measure.

Bucs DT Ndamukong Suh – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Vea’s trade request doesn’t come from a place where he wants to leave the Buccaneers due to the personnel on the team or the coaching staff. It is abundantly clear that this is about getting a long-term deal beyond this season as he finishes up the last year of his contract that pays him an average of $17.75 million per year. It’s a lot of money, but nowhere near the top of the list of highest-paid defensive tackles. Vea is currently the 19th highest-paid defensive tackle in the league entering the 2026 season.

Ndamukong Suh Comments On Vita Vea And Bucs’ Dilemma 

So given Ndamukong Suh’s relationship with both the Buccaneers and Vita Vea, it was only a matter of time before he shared his opinion on the matter. After seeing what his comments are, it’s evident that he is siding with his former teammate and close friend. Suh posted a video to his social media account with picture of Vea in the background. Here is what he commented:

“I’ve never understood why teams want to wait until the last minute to have discussions or create even further tension in a relationship where it could just be easily clear, clean communication,” Suh said. “But why wait until the last minute? To me it’s very, very odd to why not say – if this is a cornerstone player of your organization, somebody that has helped you win a championship, multiple Pro Bowls and has an opportunity to still play at a very, very high level for your organization. If you value them, you tell them that and let’s figure out a mutual relationship versus waiting until the very last minute.

Bucs DT Ndamukong Suh – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“And who in their right mind would go to a job and have no guarantee of what their salary is going to be? To me, I’m not going to work out for free and play for free and you wouldn’t just show up to work for free.”

The sentiment is well put by Suh, as he thinks player-first. Yet Vea is hardly playing for free with a base salary of $17 million in 2026, so there was certainly some hyperbole there from Suh’s statement.

The Bucs may view it differently with the understanding that Vea is under contract already. Tampa Bay loves Vea and what he’s meant to the team, but can the Buccaneers really afford to risk more money on him after this season and pay the 31-year old defensive tackle anywhere from $20 to $25 million per season on a multi-year deal? They’d be hard pressed to do so.

There are other factors in play that determine this. If everything was equal, sure, the Buccaneers wouldn’t mind giving more cash to a deserving Vea. But Tampa Bay also has a Baker Mayfield contract extension it’s working on, plus the possibility of re-signing edge rusher Yaya Diaby, right guard Cody Mauch and kicker Chase McLaughlin.

Most of these players are younger than Vea. And in the case of Mayfield, who is also 31, he plays the quarterback, which takes on even more importance in the grand scheme of things. If the Buccaneers were to extend Vea, it could eliminate their chances of bringing back some of these other players.

It’s certainly not an easy conversation to have, but that’s why general manger Jason Licht is in charge of making uncomfortable decisions that are in the best interest of the team. Suh is trying to do that for NFL players like Vea, and that makes it an intriguing plot point for where the next chapter of this story goes.