Bucs, Vea agree to 4-year extension worth reported $73M

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have extended defensive tackle Vita Vea through the 2026 season, the team announced Saturday.

The four-year extension is worth $73 million and includes $42 million in guaranteed money, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Vea's new average annual salary ($18.25 million) ranks fourth among defensive tackles. He now only trails the Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald ($22.5 million), Indianapolis Colts' DeForest Buckner ($21 million), and Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones ($20 million), according to Spotrac.

The 26-year-old Vea has established himself as one of football's top interior defensive linemen since being drafted 12th overall in 2018. He's averaged 44 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, and four sacks per 16 games throughout his career.

The Washington product only played in five games during the 2020 regular season due to injuries but was activated midway through the playoffs and helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV.

"Vita's abilities as both a premier run stuffer and pass rusher are rare," general manager Jason Licht said in a statement. "And his presence on the defensive front has played a major role in our ability to consistently rank among the league leaders in rush defense since his arrival.

"We look forward to having Vita remain a core piece of our defense for years to come and are excited to continue watching him develop into one of the best nose tackles in the NFL."

Vea has set single-season career highs with 31 tackles and four sacks through 15 appearances this season.