The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reportedly restructured defensive tackle Vita Vea’s contract, potentially freeing up some much-needed salary-cap space. The team is in a precarious financial position heading into the 2021 NFL season thanks in large part to the contracts of quarterback Tom Brady and edge rusher Shaq Barrett. With Vea’s new deal, the Bucs could have more flexibility to make additional moves ahead of the upcoming season, including signing free agents or retaining key players in future years.
Tampa Bay Bucs Restructure Defensive Tackle Vita Vea’s Contract
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made a move to help improve their team’s financial situation, as they have agreed to restructure the contract of defensive tackle Vita Vea. This move was made to help create some additional salary cap space for a team that is looking to defend its title in the upcoming NFL season.
What is a Contract Restructure?
A contract restructure is a move that is made by an NFL team to help improve their financial situation. It can be used to free up salary cap space or to make a contract more team-friendly. In the case of the Bucs’ restructure of Vea’s contract, the team has done so to create some additional salary cap space.
What are the Details of the Vita Vea Contract Restructure?
The details of Vita Vea’s contract restructure have not yet been released, as the transaction has not yet been officially announced by the team. However, it is expected that the Bucs will convert some of Vea’s base salary into a signing bonus, which will then be prorated over the remaining years of his contract. This move will create some immediate salary cap space for the team, while also adding some future dead money to Vea’s contract.
Why Did the Bucs Restructure Vea’s Contract?
The Bucs have made this move to help create some additional salary cap space for the team. They are currently tight against the cap and need to free up some space in order to sign their draft picks and any potential free agents. Vea was due to make $4.8 million in base salary in 2021, so by converting a portion of that into a signing bonus, the team can free up some immediate cap space.
What does this Mean for the Bucs’ Future?
This move helps the Bucs in the short-term, as they are able to create some additional cap space. However, it does add some future dead money to Vea’s contract, which could hurt them in the long-term. It remains to be seen how this move will impact the team in the future, but for now, it helps them to continue to build a strong roster as they look to defend their title.
What About Vita Vea?
For Vita Vea, this move does not impact his guaranteed money, as he is still owed the same amount of money that he was before the restructure. However, it does change the way that his money is distributed over the remaining years of his contract. Vea is a key piece of the Bucs’ defense and will be expected to continue to play at a high level in the upcoming season.
Final Thoughts
The Bucs have made a move to help create some additional salary cap space by restructuring Vita Vea’s contract. Although the details of the move have not been announced, the expectation is that the team will convert some of Vea’s base salary into a signing bonus. This move helps the team in the short-term, as they are able to free up some additional cap space. However, it does add future dead money to Vea’s contract. This move does not impact Vea’s guaranteed money, but it does change the way that his money is distributed over the remaining years of his contract. Overall, this move helps the Bucs in the short-term, but it remains to be seen how it will impact the team in the future.
