The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven't had a good 2026 season whatsoever through six weeks of the season. Baker Mayfield has missed a lot of time, and the team sits at 1-5.

While the NFC South is still wide open, with the Carolina Panthers only 3-2, the Buccaneers face a huge uphill battle to make up ground in the division. Unless things dramatically turn around soon, the Buccaneers are likely to sell by the trade deadline.

If they sell, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano believes that fan favorite Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea is a "sleeper" trade target for teams this Fall.

Vita Vea tabbed as 'sleeper' trade target for NFL teams

When asked about which "sleeper name for the trade deadline" isn't being talked about enough, Graziano pointed out "Tampa Bay defensive tackle Vita Vea" as one such player.

Tampa Bay is 1-5, and Vea is 31 years old. There was a contract standoff this offseason, though they got a deal done right before the season.

With a $23 million contract on the books for 2027, if there's a contender out there that needs some defensive line help, Vea is someone who could very well be available this season.

He's a great run-stuffer, and a team like the San Francisco 49ers would make a ton of sense as a landing spot for the beloved Buccaneers' DT.

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Graziano believes that the Buccaneers would be "silly" not to listen to trade offers that come in for Vea this season. With Todd Bowles likely done as the team's head coach after this season, it might be time for a rebuild in Tampa Bay.

Selling Vea would make a ton of sense, as he'd likely net the Buccaneers some solid draft capital from a Super Bowl contender. He's not overly expensive contract-wise, and would be a huge presence, literally and figuratively, for a team's defense going forward.

Vea is a sleeper trade candidate this season, and it would not be a surprise at all to see the beloved Buccaneers' DT on a new team by season's end.

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