Buccaneers training camp contracts put Mayfield and Vea in spotlight
Vita Vea has asked for a trade and Baker Mayfield is headed toward a contract year as Tampa Bay opens camp with big questions.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
The Buccaneers training camp contracts story got loud before Tampa Bay could even settle into practice: Vita Vea has requested a trade, and Baker Mayfield arrived without a new deal.
CBS Sports reported that Vea, a central piece of the Buccaneers' defensive front for the past eight seasons, wanted an extension that would keep him from reaching free agency next offseason. He staged a hold-in during minicamp as the sides tried to finish a deal, according to the report.
No agreement came before camp. CBS Sports reported that Vea asked to be traded on the eve of Tampa Bay's first practice.
Mayfield's situation landed right behind it. The quarterback had set July 28 as his own deadline for contract talks, according to CBS Sports, and he reported to camp with no extension in place.
What is happening with Baker Mayfield's Buccaneers contract?
ESPN reported that Mayfield plans to play the final season of his current contract and become an unrestricted free agent when the 2027 league year begins. ESPN also reported he is not rattled by the chance that Tampa Bay could use the franchise tag to keep him for another season.
CBS Sports reported that Mayfield was looking for a raise that would better match quarterbacks in his performance range. His current deal averages $33.3 million per year, which CBS Sports said ranks 16th among NFL quarterbacks.
Mayfield's QBR has moved upward during his Tampa Bay run, according to CBS Sports. He ranked 18th in his first season with the Buccaneers, 13th in 2024 and 12th last season.
The contract gap is not guaranteed to end his Tampa Bay run. CBS Sports pointed to Mike Evans as a recent comparison, noting that the receiver played through the 2023 season before later signing an extension with the Buccaneers.
Why did Vita Vea request a trade?
Vea's trade request followed the failure to reach a new contract before training camp, according to CBS Sports. The defensive tackle had been trying to secure an extension before hitting free agency next offseason.
A trade request does not force a team to move a player, but it changes the tone fast. For Tampa Bay, it means one of the franchise's most important defensive players has made clear that his contract dispute is no longer just background noise.
The timing stings because the Buccaneers were viewed by CBS Sports as being in the mix in a wide-open NFC South last season. Instead of opening camp around roster optimism, Tampa Bay is dealing with uncertainty around its starting quarterback and a top defensive lineman.
What else is hanging over the Buccaneers?
CBS Sports also linked the camp tension to a run of major offseason developments around the franchise. Todd Bowles was retained as head coach after an 8-9 season, but CBS Sports reported the decision came with expected changes to his assistant staff.
The Buccaneers lost seven of their final nine games in 2025, according to CBS Sports, a skid that raised questions around Bowles' standing with fans and the locker room.
Evans is also gone. His agent said in March, according to CBS Sports, that Tampa Bay made an aggressive push to keep him and presented a highly competitive offer. The agent said the decision was not about money, and Evans joined the San Francisco 49ers.
About two weeks after Evans left, longtime linebacker Lavonte David announced his retirement, according to CBS Sports. David was 35 and remained productive in his final season, leaving Tampa Bay with another major hole to fill.
Put together, the Buccaneers opened camp with two contract standoffs, two departed franchise pillars and a head coach facing pressure after a late-season slide. For a team trying to stay in the NFC South hunt, that is a lot of drama before the pads start popping.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.