Unhappy with his contract situation, Vea had requested a trade, and the 49ers were among the teams that reached out to the Buccaneers to inquire about the star defender. Adding Vea would have provided a significant boost to San Francisco's defensive front.
The Buccaneers selected Vea (6-foot-4, 347 pounds) out of Washington with the 12th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has spent his entire eight-year NFL career in Tampa Bay.
During the 2025 season, Vea appeared in all 17 games, recording 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, and 4.5 sacks. He posted a career-high seven sacks in 2024.
Over eight NFL seasons, Vea has appeared in 112 games (107 starts), totaling 256 tackles, 35 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and nine passes defensed. He also caught a one-yard touchdown pass during the 2019 season.
Vea was a key member of Tampa Bay's Super Bowl LV-winning team during the 2020 season and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
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