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Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might need what seems like a complete overhaul on the defensive side of the ball. New faces might mean better results than what led to an 8-9 finish in 2025 and missing the playoffs for the 1st time since 2019.
What the Buccaneers might not want to do is get rid of 1 of their only high-performing assets — something Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon predicts they might do by releasing 2-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea to create salary cap space in one of the NFL’s “shocking” offseason moves.
Vea, 6-foot-4 and 347 pounds, has spent his entire career with the Buccaneers since he was selected in the 1st round (No. 12 overall) of the 2018 NFL draft, including a heroic postseason performance on the way to winning a Super Bowl following the 2020 season.
“The aging Bucs have a lot of tough decisions to make with expensive veterans this offseason, and Vea saw his productivity drop off in his age-30 season,” Gagnon wrote. “He’s still a critical member of the defense but could be declining after eight years. Vea will cost the Bucs $22.2 million, unless he restructures or the team releases him to generate $15.7 million in salary-cap savings for 2026.”
All that being said, it’s hard to imagine a universe in which the Buccaneers aren’t a discernibly worse team without Vea.
Vea Entered Top 10 Career Sacks List for Bucs
Vea has established himself as one of the NFL’s premiere interior defensive linemen over the last 8 seasons and put his name in the Buccaneers’ record books in 2025 after his 4.5 sacks propelled him into Tampa Bay’s Top 10 in franchise history — he now has 35.0 career sacks.
Lee Roy Selmon, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1976 NFL draft, is Tampa Bay’s career leader with 78.5 sacks from 1976 to 1984.
“The Buccaneers’ defense centers around imposing nose tackle Vita Vea,” Buccaneers.com’s Brianna Dix wrote on March 26. “The two-time Pro Bowl veteran wreaks havoc in the trenches, whether clogging holes or penetrating the backfield. He amassed 39 tackles (nine for loss), 7.0 sacks, 12 quarterback hits and one pass defensed in 15 games played in 2024.”
Vea Can’t Get Consistency From Fellow 1st Rounder
The Buccaneers have gotten consistent production from Vea throughout his entire career and have paid him handsomely. In 2026, he’s due to make $18 million in the final season of the 4-year, $71 million contract he signed in January 2022.
Vea’s biggest problem the last few years has been having to essentially shoulder the entire load on the interior defensive line despite the Buccaneers spending their 2023 1st round pick on chronically injured No. 19 overall pick Calijah Kancey.
Kancey could very well be down to his last chance with the Buccaneers in 2026 after he plays out his 4-year, $14.4 million rookie contract.
Kancey led the Buccaneers with 7.5 sacks in 2024 despite missing 5 games due to injuries. He has missed 22 games due to injuries over his first 3 seasons, including 15 games in 2025.
“A #19 overall pick out of Pitt, Kancey was looking to build off of a breakout campaign in 2024 (8 sacks, 1 forced fumble), but was limited to just 2 2025 games due to a torn pec,” Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti wrote on January 5. “The Bucs will need to decide on a projected $14.25M 5th-year option for Kancey by May 1st.”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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