Vita Vea Requests Trade From Buccaneers: Survivor Impact

Vita Vea wants out of Tampa Bay

Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea has requested a trade after contract extension talks broke down, his agent Collin Roberts told ESPN on Monday. The two-time Pro Bowler is one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the league, and losing him — or watching a distracted holdout drag into the season — would leave a real hole in the middle of Tampa Bay's defense.

What it means for your survivor pick

This is a reason to slow down on the Buccaneers early. Tampa opens Week 1 on the road at Cincinnati as a 3.5-point underdog, so they were never a survivor option there anyway. The relevant weeks are Week 2 at home against Cleveland (TB -6.5) and Week 3 at home against Minnesota (TB -1.5). The Browns game is the only spot that looks like a comfortable favorite, but a defensive front missing or distracted by its best interior disruptor is a downgrade worth pricing in — and the Vikings line is essentially a coin flip you'd want no part of regardless. If you're weighing Tampa as a Week 2 safe pick, wait for clarity on Vea's status before committing an entry; a trade or a holdout changes the math. New to this? Brush up on how survivor pools work or start a free survivor pool to put the read into practice.