Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have been busy scouring the Internet during minicamp for news nuggets regarding star quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is in the middle of what appears to be tense contract negotiations on a new deal with the Bucs. The talks appear to be tense because, by Mayfield's own admission, the Bucs and their franchise quarterback are not really close on the financial details of a deal that Bucs general manager Jason Licht has been hoping to close before the 2026 NFL season starts.
But Mayfield is not the only star player the Bucs need to be working on a new deal for this summer. On the other side of the ball, the Buccaneers best defensive player, forever under appreciated nose tackle Vita Vea, appears to be a minicamp hold in and looking for a new deal.
There was some mystery as to why Vea was not practicing with his teammates initially, but it has become patently obvious now that he is looking for a new deal, given he is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL but is not being paid remotely like one.
Vita Vea wants the dough
Speaking in an appearance on ESPN NFL Live, via Sleeper Bucs, iconic Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle and commentator Booger McFarland gave some insight on the Vita Vea situation, and coming from a guy who seems to have a lot of insight intel on a Bucs nose tackle, Booger does not seem to be too bothered by the situation.
McFarland made it clear that Vea and his hold in is simple, and it is all just about the veteran nose tackle requesting a raise from the Buccaneers this offseason. Vea wants the money, the Bucs understand his request, and there is no tension at all between the player and the franchise at this moment in time.
It isn't like the media is always out to blow a story out of proportion, but any element of mystery at this doldrum point of the NFL offseason is bound to cook up a storm. Vea wants to be paid more comparable to the elite defensive tackles in the league, and given his importance to a Buccaneers team that aims to win the Super Bowl, that is a reasonable request.
Right now, Vea makes less money per year than about 18 defensive tackles in the NFL, including the likes of Kenny Clark and Zach Sieler who really aren't anywhere near his caliber of player. Vea should be paid like a top 10 defensive tackle with his rare skill set, which would put him at around $23 million.
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