TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have no plans to trade away their star defensive tackle.
That is the message the team’s general manager had for fans and every other NFL team when asked about Vita Vea on Thursday.
Vea has requested to be sent to another team after he and the front office couldn’t reach a deal on an extension in the offseason.
Vea’s agent said a trade is all but inevitable.
Bucs General Manager Jason Licht, however, said the team is still trying to figure out how to hold on to the defense’s centerpiece.
“We love Vita. We’ve been engaged with his agent recently. I don’t know how it’s going to end, but we’ve been engaged, and that’s at least some progress,” Licht said.
Vea isn’t practicing because of what the team is calling a minor back issue.
Licht also said he is keeping the door open to continue contract negotiations with quarterback Baker Mayfield should the play-caller change his stance and come to the table.
Mayfield has said he and his agent wouldn’t discuss a new deal once football activities began.