Tampa Bay Buccaneers Need $70 Million Star to ‘Play Better,’ Coach Says

But, if the Buccaneers’ defense is going to take the next step, Vea’s position coach says Tampa Bay needs more out of the 29-year-old former first-round pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers need More from Vita Vea

Last season, Vea posted a career-high 43 total tackles with 5.5 sacks as the Buccaneers made a run to the NFC Divisional playoffs.

As the 2024 campaign looms, Buccaneers defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers hopes that Vea can take the next step and become one of the premier players at his position this season.

“Vita has to play better,” Rodgers said, via PewterReport.com. “When you are talking about that and just looking at plays he’s leaving out there, Vita is a really strong man when he uses his hands and proper technique he’s hard to stop. That’s the thing. He plays hard and does everything we ask of him. Just when you go back and look at some plays, ‘You should have made that play. You know that guy should not be blocking you.’ That’s kind of where we need him to take the next step because he does everything, everything else we ask him for.”

Vea has developed into a space-eating run-stuffer through his career, but as Pro Football Focus points out, is also a dominant interior pass-rush presence. Last season, Vea added 30 total quarterback hurries to go with his 5.5 sacks en-route to a 72.3 pass-rush grade from PFF.

Given that the NFC South features elite running backs like Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara, a more disruptive Vea would go a long way towards the Buccaneers’ defense being an even tougher out in 2024.