More than anything it comes down to how productive he can be in his 30s.
Also Dexter Lawrence got a top 10 pick... So maybe a good time to trade him anyway based on that barometer
To your point, Dexter Lawrence maybe 28? Vea is 31, I think.
But yes maybe they get something decent in trade.
It will work out. There is a compromise contract and there is a trade that works for both sides.
thing with Evans is that he likely still has 3-4 years of half decent play that would be worth the contract
The team's value statement ^^.
That is my point ("Every player/deal has a value and players and teams often see them differently") and they STILL didn't offer Evans what his agent said was the market for him.
Everyone here except you and Biggs seems to be okay with the Bucs early negotiating with Mayfield so long as the deal is okay, so why should Vea have to play out his deal? Because . . . those same fans think he may not have the same production going forward as Evans might ("3-4 year of half decent play") or that most people** think Mayfield might
(**If only we could get more people to see that Mayfield is really only a 1.33TD to INT QB . .. aka the "Last 8 games Model," made famous by the "objective" stat makers at PFF, I think!)
to be clear, vita should play on his contact. I’m just saying I understand his play just like I understand baker wanting a 5 year deal.
also, a little different than Baker. Vita is top 10 at his position and didn’t have a down year in all material respects
Baker is arguably top 15-20 and is coming off his worst year as a Buc
they appear to have different leverage heading into 2026 season
More than anything it comes down to how productive he can be in his 30s.
Agreed. It's why I'd let him play out his contract.
I don't think the Bucs would get anything close to what the Giants got for Dexter. Dexter is almost three years younger, and a better overall player.
they appear to have different leverage heading into 2026 season
You think Vea has better leverage than Mayfield? Because, in your view "Vea is a top 10 player and didnt have a down year" in 2025?
Just curious, what do you think the odds are that the Bucs tell Vea "no trade, play out your current deal" in 2026?
Vita is top 10 at his position and didn’t have a down year in all material respects
FWIW this Josh Q in an article saying Vea is probably worth a 3rd round pick
"His $17.75 million average salary is now 19th among all interior defensive linemen and his $18 million cash owed is 13th at his position group for this year.
By comparison he was 15th in snaps, 12th in pressures, 21st in pressure rate, 46th in defensive stops and 29th in sacks last year per Pro Football Focus. Those rankings are almost all down from where he was in 2024, showing the real risk involved with a now-31-year-old defensive tackle. Is Vea currently worth more than the salary the Bucs are set to pay him this year?"
Even I think there are external factors but if they are ignored for Mayfield they must be ignored for Vea.