The Tennessee Titans just shipped All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick in a blockbuster deal.
It’s a move that’s sending shockwaves around the NFL, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could soon face an important decision on their own star defensive tackle, Vita Vea.
Vea was the subject of trade rumors this offseason after he requested a trade out of Tampa Bay in search of a contract extension. He and the team ultimately came to a deal, but with the Buccaneers sitting at 2-5, they’re viewed as potential sellers at the trade deadline, and Vea’s name is being floated as a trade candidate once again.
Vea wouldn’t fetch the same massive trade package on the market as Simmons, but he could still net Tampa Bay a significant return if they decide to move on from the 31-year-old defensive tackle.
Jeffery Simmons trade could raise the Buccaneers’ asking price for Vita Vea
The Buccaneers are at a crossroads ahead of their Week 8 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. If they pull off a victory, Tampa Bay will improve to 3-5, within a game of first place in the NFC South.
But with a loss, they’d fall to 2-6, and it might be time to stick a fork in this year’s team and look ahead to the future.
Vea remains a key piece of the Buccaneers’ defense, but for the right price, moving on could be the best decision for the franchise.
Pro Football Network’s trade machine estimates Vea’s trade value as a third-round pick. That seems a bit underwhelming for one of the NFL’s elite nose tackles, but perhaps the massive return garnered by Simmons could inflate the market and net the Bucs a better return.
According to Daniel Popper of The Athletic, the financials could make it a difficult move to pull off.
“[Vea] is due $23 million guaranteed in 2027, so an acquiring team would be looking at a future commitment. The Bucs, meanwhile, would take on $19.6 million in dead money in 2027.”
With that in mind, Tampa Bay will be reluctant to move on from Vea without an offer they can’t refuse. Moving on from a cornerstone player and taking on nearly $20 million in dead cap in exchange for a Day 2 pick might not be enticing enough for Jason Licht and the front office to pull the trigger.
Vea isn’t untouchable, and the Bucs could listen to offers, but it would likely take a Godfather offer to get Tampa Bay to make the move.
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