Longtime Buccaneers lineman Vita Vea requests trade as contract talks stall

Vita, see ya later.

Two-time Pro Bowler Vita Vea has requested a trade from the Buccaneers after contract extension talks stalled, his agent told ESPN.

The 31-year-old is in the final year of his four-year, $71 million contract and is set to make $17 million this season, none of which is guaranteed.

He will also earn a per-game roster bonus that is capped at $1 million but is seeking a deal past just this season.

Currently, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, Vita is the 19th highest-paid defensive tackle in the league, with only four of the players ranked ahead of him older than he is.

During Tampa Bay’s mandatory minicamp last month, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said he wasn’t concerned about the Super Bowl champion, a hold-in at the time, because contract negotiations are “part of the business.”

According to Auman, Vea plans to report for training camp with the rest of the team Tuesday.

Though the Buccaneers have no obligation to deal the defensive tackle, losing him would mean losing the centerpiece of their defensive front.

Last season, Vea played in all 17 games, finishing with 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 34 tackles. He has 35 sacks for the team since being selected with the 12th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Without Vea, Tampa Bay would be left with Calijah Kancey, A’Shawn Robinson, Elijah Roberts, rookie DeMonte Capehart and veteran Rakeem Nunez-Roches as their top five on the defensive line.

None of whom has more than 15 career sacks.

The Buccaneers are also in a contract dispute with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is entering his final season of a $100 million contract.

He fully participated in minicamp, but said last month that contract talks aren’t “anywhere close” to what he wants.

He also said he would not negotiate his contract once training camp starts.