What happened: The Vita Vea contract standoff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continues during the 2026 preseason while the sides remain in communication. He is entering the final season of his deal with a $17 million base salary and no guaranteed money.

Why it matters: Vea started all 17 games in 2025, recording 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks. That durability and interior production make his current compensation look more replaceable than the player actually is.