Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea is making his contract wishes known by conducting a so-called “hold-in” during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ mandatory minicamp this week.
The 31-year-old is heading into the last year of a four-year deal worth $71 million. He is scheduled to make $17 million in 2026, but none of that money is currently guaranteed.
Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed that Vea has been showing up to practices and watching from the sideline — a strategy that keeps him from facing fines for non-participation.
“It’s not concerning,” Bowles said Wednesday. “We’ve been through it before. It’s part of the business.”
Bowles also made clear that Vea is healthy and not dealing with any injury.
“We’re just bringing him in that late,” Bowles said. “He’s full-speed. He needs to go through training camp, but we don’t need to see him right now.”
Vea sat out the optional offseason workouts this spring and has been working out on his own alongside former Buccaneers teammate Ndamukong Suh in Portland, Oregon, according to ESPN.
Last season, Vea started all 17 games and recorded 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and one fumble recovery.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl LV champion has put together an impressive career resume with 256 tackles, 35 sacks, 79 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries across 112 games and 107 starts since Tampa Bay selected him in the first round — 12th overall — in the 2018 NFL Draft.
