Alright, listen up, Emerald City. Our guy, former Washington Huskies star Vita Vea, just got an honorable mention in ESPN's annual ranking of the NFL's top defensive tackles, but here's the kicker: he didn't even crack the top ten. The 31-year-old, who's been crushing it for eight years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is reportedly in the middle of a hold-in during offseason workouts, and honestly, can you blame him?
The Pro Bowl Talent Getting Shortchanged
Vea has been nothing short of a beast since Jason Licht drafted him 12th overall back in 2018. We're talking two Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl LV victory where he was a key piece. This dude, all 6-foot-4, 347 pounds of him, is still an absolute load for offensive lines to deal with. An NFL defensive line coach even told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Vea played a little lighter last year, which is a good sign for his continued dominance. But for all that impact, all that disruption, an "honorable mention" feels like a slap in the face when you see what he brings to the field.The Money Talk and Why It Matters
Here's where it gets real. Vita Vea is entering the final year of a four-year, $71 million extension that kicked in after the 2022 season. And while that sounds like a lot, ESPN's Booger McFarland reported that things aren't contentious, but Vea sees guys like Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence making way more. According to Spotrac, our former Husky will be the NFL's 17th highest-paid defensive tackle in 2026. The man has 256 tackles, 48 for loss, and 35 sacks under his belt, not to mention his reputation as one of the league's most-feared run defenders. Those numbers alone scream "worth the extension." He just wants a bit of a pay bump, and frankly, he's earned it. So, what's next? Tampa Bay needs to make this right. A player of Vea's caliber, with his stats and his history, shouldn't be struggling to get a fair contract. We're all waiting to see if the Bucs organization steps up and pays one of the league's top run stoppers what he's truly worth.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.