In a Thursday column on PewterReport.com, two Pewter Reporters will debate a Bucs topic with different viewpoints. Which Pewter Reporter wins the debate? You get to decide in the comments section below.

This Week’s Topic: Is Vita Vea A Candidate For The Bucs Ring Of Honor?

Point: Vita Vea Already Has Bucs Ring Of Honor Credentials

By Scott Reynolds

Let me preface my remarks by saying that long-time Tampa Bay defensive tackle Vita Vea is not a lock to be in the Bucs Ring of Honor. I can think of several more worthy candidates that should get in before Vea should be considered. Those include linebacker Lavonte David, quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Mike Evans, linebacker Hardy Nickerson and legendary radio voice Gene Deckerhoff. I might even consider outside linebacker Shaq Barrett ahead of Vea in the induction process, but that doesn’t mean that the 2018 first-round pick shouldn’t get in.

Vea is a two-time Pro Bowler and regarded as one of the best defensive tackles in the game today. Even at age 31 he’s a game-wrecker for opposing offensive coordinators. And in 2022 he led Tampa Bay in sacks with 6.5, which is incredibly hard to do for a nose tackle, who is typically double-teamed. And I do realize that former Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy actually had six Pro Bowl berths, which is four more than Vea.

Bucs NT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

The Glazers don’t have a particular set of criteria for Bucs Ring of Honor induction. They have inducted two players who never made a Pro Bowl in legendary left tackle Paul Gruber and quarterback Doug Williams. But the Glazers have never inducted someone who has never been on a playoff team in Tampa Bay, and I think that’s why McCoy has yet to get in – and may never get in.

Vea has 35 career sacks, which currently ranks eighth in team history. With four more he’ll pass David Logan, and with eight more he’ll pass Lavonte David and move into sixth place all-time. With 10 more sacks, he’ll tie Barrett for fifth place in Tampa Bay annals, which would be a remarkable feat for a 6-foot-4, 347-pound nose tackle. In order for Vea to continue to climb this ladder he’ll need to receive a contract extension, as he’s entering a contract year in 2026.

Vea has been working out with former Tampa Bay defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh over the past three offseasons to be in great shape with the expectation of extending his career. If he has another very good season and his contract demands aren’t too high I could see the Buccaneers extending him for two more years after this upcoming season. That would afford him the time to continue to move up the sack chart and continue to help Tampa Bay.

Bucs DT tackle Vita Vea – Photo Credit: USA Today

Vea was part of the Buccaneers’ 2020 Super Bowl team, although he missed a good chunk of the regular season due to a fractured leg. But there’s no doubt that Vea’s presence was felt in his return to action at Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game. Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett combined for five sacks in Tampa Bay’s 31-26 win, largely due to Vea’s pressure up the middle, which flushed Aaron Rodgers into their arms. Vea was also a force a week later in Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Winning matters when it comes to the Bucs Ring of Honor, and the ultimate expression of a great, winning season is a playoff berth. The Buccaneers have made the playoffs in five out of the eight years Vea has anchored the middle of Tampa Bay’s defense, including four NFC South championships. That’s likely why Vea might get some consideration over McCoy for Bucs Ring of Honor enshrinement after he retires. And I also happen to think that Vea is the second-best defensive tackle in team history behind Warren Sapp and ahead of McCoy, despite having a few less Pro Bowls.

Counterpoint: Vita Vea Has Been A Great Buccaneer, Just Not An Elite One – Yet

By Josh Queipo

I’m going to keep my Counterpoint brief. I get it. Vita Vea has been a franchise stalwart since he was drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Since then Vea has manned the interior for some stout Tampa Bay run defenses under Todd Bowles. Vea’s impact lies in how he enables his defensive coordinator to implement various schemes.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But Vea’s individual impact makes a difficult case for his enshrinement in the Bucs Ring of Honor. Vea has a Super Bowl ring, but he missed the majority of that 2020 season due to a leg injury. He returned for the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl during the playoffs, but managed only one tackle combined across those two games.

With 35 sacks across eight seasons, Vea’s impact as a pass rusher has been inconsistent at best. He ranks eighth all-time in franchise history in that area behind former defensive tackle David Logan and two sacks ahead of another former nose tackle in Brad Culpepper. Neither Logan nor Culpepper is a member of the Bucs Ring of Honor.

And with two Pro Bowls on his resume, Vea, who has served as a multi-year team captain, has fewer Pro Bowl appearances than center Tony Mayberry (three), tight end Jimmie Giles (four) and linebacker Hardy Nickerson (five). Giles is the only Bucs Ring of Honor member in that group.

Don’t get me wrong. Vea is a great player and he’s been a valuable member of the Buccaneers. But he will need to add another Super Bowl or another Pro Bowl or an 8-10 sack season before he gets over the line for Bucs Ring of Honor enshrinement in my opinion.