I said this in the other thread but I'd take a 2nd and a 4th.
I could see a team that is looking for another piece to win a championship giving a second for Vea. The problem becomes that team will also have to give him the guaranteed extension he's looking for before he plays. Not many of those teams have the cap room available to make such a move at this point in the year. But SF, LAC, WASH, INDY, or NE would be good options.
Hearing, if the pick is a second or higher, that NE is his landing spot. Not West coast. Probably further away from truly competing than Tampa. Weird stuff.
I said this in the other thread but I'd take a 2nd and a 4th.
I could see a team that is looking for another piece to win a championship giving a second for Vea. The problem becomes that team will also have to give him the guaranteed extension he's looking for before he plays. Not many of those teams have the cap room available to make such a move at this point in the year. But SF, LAC, WASH, INDY, or NE would be good options.
Good point and why I'm leaning toward him staying in Tampa. But at this point it feels like a guess
Giants are desperate for a NT but I am not sure they have the will to do it. LAC might bite though if they want Vea to rotate with Tomlinson. Having Caldwell, Vea, and Tomlinson trio is hard to beat.
Bucs argued they want to be bigger on defense but trading away Vea would be a big blow to that objective.
"During an appearance Saturday on Inside Training Camp Live, Rapoport discussed a potential "middle ground" between Vea and the Bucs that would see the organization "sweeten the pot" by guaranteeing or adding money to his contract for 2026"
That is interesting because it looked fromm the outside looking in that the organization was ok with moving on without him."During an appearance Saturday on Inside Training Camp Live, Rapoport discussed a potential "middle ground" between Vea and the Bucs that would see the organization "sweeten the pot" by guaranteeing or adding money to his contract for 2026"
I could absolutely see a scenario where Licht guarantees his money this year. He plays out the season, and walks in FA, and we miss an opportunity to maximize draft capital via trade.
The only thing that might be worse is he signs him to a 2-3 year extension for big money.
Licht gonna Licht…
An extension of Vea makes money sense because that would be a better option than using that money for Diaby or Kancey. But guaranteeing that money for this season doesn't make sense if you are going to let him walk the following season anyways. And if they let him walk then trading him now makes the most sense when his value is at his peak.
As posted before, the Bucs are going through a transition
"Jason Licht has alluded to the fact that the roster construction from a salary cap standpoint is a puzzle and making all of the pieces fit is a challenge. Sometimes it’s not possible to make every piece fit. Tampa Bay has done a great job of acquiring talent through the draft and free agency. The problem is when those second and third contracts hit the price tag always seems to go up.
Tony Dungy wasn’t wrong [about having to let E James go]. Sometimes one superstar has to be sacrificed from a salary cap perspective to help the team keep other superstars. You just have to hope you are letting the right guy go at the right time and that you are keeping the right guys, too. The problem is there is no crystal ball to help NFL general managers in that area.
"Vea will be 32 next year and he’ll command a salary of at least $21 million. I don’t see a world where Vea, Cody Mauch and Yaya Diaby can all come back from an economic standpoint because the ramifications in the near future would be too great. The Bucs would have to sacrifice a young star or two just to keep the aging Vea."
"To put that in perspective, the sum of the 2027 salary cap numbers of Rueben Bain Jr. ($5,400,055), Emeka Egbuaka ($4,956,199), Josiah Trotter ($2,478,089), Tykee Smith ($1,809,506), Jalen McMillan $1,801,871), Jacob Parrish ($1,731,449), Ted Hurst ($1,571,831) and Bucky Irving ($1,372,888) equals $21.1 million. That’s eight young starters for the price of one soon-to-be 32-year old defensive tackle."
GOOD POST. Puts a lot into perspective. And how hard Licht's job is.
Vea sums things up with a simple "shoulder shrug" retweet, but its not quite as clear as Vea suggests BECAUSE of what the original tweet leaves out.
Here's the substance of the original tweet with the missing pieces in parentheses
"Jeffery Simmons: 109 pressures, 16 sacks (age 29)
Vita Vea: 101, 11.5 (age 31)
Quinnen Williams: 116 , 8.5 (age 28)
Jalen Carter: 94, 7.5 (age 25)
Dexter Lawrence: 70, 9.5 (age 28)
Vea was probably 28 when he got his 4 year extension and at the time it made him the 5th highest paid tackle, per ESPN
"The average annual value of Vea's deal is $18.25 million per year, making him the fifth-highest-paid defensive tackle in the league behind Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, Leonard Williams of the New York Giants, DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts and Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs in terms of average per year.
I think he's getting bad career advice. Bucs are pretty stacked up front with him in the mix he would put up great numbers that would probably pay him a lot of money next year. The groping about it and not playing I don't think helps.
Licht and Vea's agent are having discussions as being reported, so it is not like there isn't a possibility that Vea returns for 2027. But you have to many X factors with Diaby, Kancey and Mayfield contract situations.
Just curious, what do you think the odds are that the Bucs tell Vea "no trade, play out your current deal" in 2026?
i'd suggest very high if they want to compete this year
probably 60% he plays on current deal, maybe sits out first several games
probably 20% he is traded
Probably 20% he is extended additional 2 years at a raise.
One option you left out is something like a raise this season or making his balance due guaranteed, but since we are now past game 1 of the preseason, any revisions to your take?
It seems like the potential outcomes (in no particular oder) are:
1. a trade
2. force him to play his current deal
3. extension
4. compromise by guaranteeing his current salary or giving him a raise this season (or both)
Which one do you choose? Or, rank them maybe?
IIRC, Parsons was traded before Game 1. Not comparing the two, just noting the timing.
Just curious, what do you think the odds are that the Bucs tell Vea "no trade, play out your current deal" in 2026?
i'd suggest very high if they want to compete this year
probably 60% he plays on current deal, maybe sits out first several games
probably 20% he is traded
Probably 20% he is extended additional 2 years at a raise.
One option you left out is something like a raise this season or making his balance due guaranteed, but since we are now past game 1 of the preseason, any revisions to your take?
It seems like the potential outcomes (in no particular oder) are:
1. a trade
2. force him to play his current deal
3. extension
4. compromise by guaranteeing his current salary or giving him a raise this season (or both)
Which one do you choose? Or, rank them maybe?
IIRC, Parsons was traded before Game 1. Not comparing the two, just noting the timing.
i heard that option being floated....making this season guaranteed but i am not sure that makes Vea happy. He will likely half ass it because guaranteeing this year does nothing if hes hurt for his free agency pay day. And at his age, that's likely his last contract in the NFL.
i'd imagine he is out for an extension either here or somewhere else
if im Bucs, i'd choose
3. Extension but only it's like a 2 year extension (get full effort Vea through age 33 season)
4. guarantee current year (still have an uphappy Vea who will not give 100% since hes worried about future)
1. a trade (maybe we can get some draft capital but again, depends on his value) We'd be punting the season
2. Force him to play current deal (we will get half ass Vea, if he does show up)
