The Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided they won’t be signing any of their best players to contract extensions.
As NFL training camps open up today, 2-time All-Star nose tackle Vita Vea’s requested a trade away from the team following frustrating contract negotiations. Vea enters 2026 on the final year of his 4-year, $71m deal, Tampa Bay refusing to financially commit to the 31-year-old difference maker.
Vita’s only worked here. Drafted by the Bucs 12th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Vea’s recorded 79 QB hits, 48 tackles for loss and 35 sacks over 112 games and 107 starts—but missed the team’s 2020 Tom Brady championship run, out with an injury. Vea no longer worried about winning chips in Tampa as the team refuses to cash him out.
Coming off 34 tackles, 7 for a loss, 13 QB hits and 4.5 sacks with the 7th-most pressures at his position (51), PFF ranking him as the league’s 18th-best DT among 127 qualifiers. Vita will have suitors.
Every DT around Vea getting paid.
The Titans signed Jeffrey Simmons to a record-breaking extension worth $105.8MM (including $100MM in guarantees). As I write this, the Eagles just penned Jalen Carter to an even bigger contract than Simmons’s. The Bengals gave Dexter Lawrence 1-year, $28M just walking off the plane. 14 D-tackles averaging at least $20MM.
Meanwhile, Vea enters this season earning $18M in 2026 ($17M of that $18m not even guaranteed).
Also as I write this, Baker Mayfield ends his contract extension negotiations with the Buccaneers, entering training camp on the final year of his contract.
Baker arrived in 2022, parking in Tom Brady’s old spot, leading the Bucs to 3 straight division titles, narrowly missing the postseason last season following a Mayfield injury that torpedoed the end of their season, allowing Carolina to sneak into the playoffs, almost upsetting the Los Angeles Rams, something Baker and the Bucs were not about to do either.
Like Vea, Baker is only 31 years old with a lot more football highlights in his future. The NFC South is a winnable division but Tampa Bay’s front office appears unwilling to financially commit to the same group of underachievers each year. Going as far as trading future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans to the San Francisco 49ers.
3-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion LB Lavonte David retired this offseason.
Tampa Bay is punting the season.
What’s the Buccaneers plan?
Best case scenario: Playing for a contract activates sicko mode Baker, rising him to MVP levels, a plane he touched briefly before injuries jettisoned him back to reality. Yea, Mike Evans works in the Bay, good luck around all that 5G brother, keep those limbs tight, but Chris Godwin still works here. Emeka Ebduka returns from a 63 reception 938 yards and 6 touchdown rookie season. RB Bucky Irvin is capable of winning a game or two off a hearty Sunday breakfast. First round pick Reuben Bain Jr, a potential game-destroyer.
And the Bucs make a heroic Super Bowl run, Baker powered exclusively by Spite, smelling salts and dark Applebee’s parking lots.
Contracts get extended next offseason. Water beneath bridge.
Worst case scenario: The Bucs struggle in a musty NFC South, Tampa looking impudent without Lavonte David, Mike Evans and potentially Vita Vea. They set themselves up to select a Top QB in the next draft, the rebuild begins. Todd Bowles fired at some point between now and a year from now.
Win-win for Tampa.
If you enjoyed what you read, head over to our Substack. We’ve got more content making fun of the ridiculous world we live in, sent directly to your email inbox daily.
Follow us over on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at [email protected]. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.
