Todd Bowles is catching heat for the Vita Vea trade request and it’s frankly one of the worst accusations I’ve heard in a while
Todd Bowles is getting blamed for the fact Vita Vea asked the Buccaneers to trade him and it couldn’t be a more inaccurate perspective.
Look, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is far from perfect and there are logical reasons why people doubt him in 2026.
But he, in no way, should shoulder any blame for Vita Vea’s recent trade request.
Plenty of people online state Bowles is to blame because of not only last year’s collapse, but the overall mediocrity that’s surrounded the Buccaneers since he took over as head coach. Yes, the Bucs won the NFC South three times in a row with Bowles at the helm, but it’s been a bad division ever since Drew Brees retired. The Buccaneers have never won more than 10 games under Bowles, mainly because every year has featured a midseason collapse that leaves the Bucs in scramble mode to get back to the top and into the playoffs.
And speaking of playoffs, Bowles is currently 1-2 in that department, with the latest appearance resulting in a disappointing home loss to the Washington Commanders in 2024.
But none of that, and I mean none of that, is why Vita Vea asked for a trade.
It can’t be any more clear that Vea wants out because the Buccaneers aren’t willing to give him a long-term deal. That has nothing to do with Bowles and everything to do with the front office, starting with Jason Licht.
Both sides have arguments to make in their favor. Starting with Licht, it’s hard to give Vea a multi-year deal when considering his age, position, and the fact the Buccaneers have other players like Baker Mayfield, Yaya Diaby, Cody Mauch, and Chase McLaughlin to consider when it comes to their own respective contracts.
But Vea continues to play well into his 30s and has definitely outperformed the four-year, $71 million deal he signed back in 2022. Honestly, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and that should help mitigate age concerns.
It’s clearly not enough for Licht and Co., though, and again, they’re taking a reasonable stance. So is Vea.
The unreasonable stance is blaming Bowles for this. People want to bring out the pitchforks after Mike Evans left, but there is no tangible connection between Bowles and his desire to leave Tampa Bay. It’s speculation, at best.
The folks pinning this on Bowles need to sit this one out, plain and simple.