Should the Bears consider trading for Pro Bowl DT Vita Vea?

Just before the Chicago Bears opened training camp this week, big news came out that could grab the attention of the front office with a position player they could use having requested a trade. According to several NFL insiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea, a former first-round pick in 2018, has requested a trade due to stalled contract negotiations.

While it could just be a ploy to get the franchise to bite into his favor during contract talks, Vea’s trade request should immediately perk the ears of Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Coming into this season, the Bears really only have Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett as their production leaders at the defensive tackle but severely lack depth behind him, and Jarrett underperformed in his first season with Chicago last year.

The question now becomes if the Bears should entertain a trade for Vea, and if they do, what would that look like to acquire him, as there’s no doubt he’d be a big upgrade to the defensive line as a whole. Here’s our examination of a potential Bears pursuit of acquiring the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle.

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A trade for Vea, at the very minimum, is going to likely start with a second-round pick, and another Day 3 pick going back to Tampa Bay, but the Bears may also want to consider dangling Gervon Dexter in return. The issue with potentially including Dexter is that he would be the youngest of the three between Vea, Jarrett, and himself, and he’s a free agent after the 2026 season, so a contract is going to be on the table for both players. For Chicago, there would need to be a contract extension on the table for Vea, which could be very difficult with limited cap space, especially with the veteran defensive tackle likely looking to get paid among the top players at his position, approximately over $20 million a season.

The Bears were one of the worst run defenses in the NFL last year, allowing 134.5 yards per game to opponents, as well as a 5.0 yard per carry average to opposing running backs. Over the last several seasons, Vea has been among the best run stoppers in the league, and in 2024 he had the best season of his career with 7.0 sacks and 10 tackles for loss on the year. If Chicago believes that Vea could lead the defensive tackle position, and improve their run defense, they should swing big if they can make it work from a financial fit, because he would most certainly be a big upgrade on the field.

Chicago should get on the phone immediately with Tampa Bay and explore the cost of acquiring Vea, because he’s the talented veteran that they need at their weakest position. However, the trade request could just very well be a negotiation tactic, and Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht usually finds a way to keep his homegrown talent, so the probability of a trade is less likely. There is no doubt that Vea’s play and skillset would immediately help the Bears run defense and defensive tackle group as a whole, but it would also put two older veterans at the top of the position group with Vea and Grady Jarrett.

The biggest question comes into the contract that Vea would be commanding from Tampa Bay or any team that acquired him, and as the defensive line, specifically pass rusher, has been a pressing need for the Bears over the past few seasons, the front office has decided against swinging for big trades. It’s a nice dream and thought to get Vea in Chicago, but it has not been their style of late, and they may once again miss out on a position of need on the trade market.

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