The Bucs have restructured the contract of star nose tackle Vita Vea with a salary cap conversion, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Bucs NT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

The move will clear approximately $9 million in much-needed cap space for the reigning NFC South division champions. Vea, who is coming off of a career high 6.5 sack season, was set to count for $15,651,652 against Tampa Bay’s salary cap this year.

Vea’s Production With The Bucs

Vea has become a stalwart in the center of head coach Todd Bowles’ defense, providing size and mass in the center to help dissuade opponents from running up the middle while also generating a decent amount of pass rush as evidenced by his 175 quarterback pressures over his five-year career.

After selecting him 12th overall in 2018, the Bucs extended Vea in January of 2022 prior to him having to play on the fifth-year option the Bucs exercised on his contract the year prior. This move was expected, considering the Bucs were set to be around $56 million over the 2023 salary cap.

Bucs brass: Jason Licht, John Spytek and Mike Greenberg – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

For his career, Vea has played in 64 games, starting 59. He has logged 83 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and six passes defensed while forcing one fumble and recovering two.

The move by Tampa Bay puts the team a step closer to getting under the salary cap. They’ve already tried a number of tasks, which includes releasing starting left tackle Donovan Smith and tight end Cam Brate. The Bucs are also expected to cut running back Leonard Fournette. More contract restructures look to be on the way as Tampa Bay is still about $30 million over the cap before the start of free agency.

Next week is a big one around the NFL as the the legal tampering period begins on Monday, March 13, and the new league year starts on Wednesday, March 15. We’ll see by then how Tampa Bay can get cap compliant.