Bucs GM: No plans for Vea trade, Baker still QB1

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have "no plans" to trade Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea and still view Baker Mayfield as a franchise quarterback, according to general manager Jason Licht. "I have no plans on trading Vita," Licht said Thursday when asked about the training camp hold-in of Vea, whose agent Collin Roberts told the Tampa Bay Times this week that he "doesn't see it ending in anything but a trade." "We love Vita," Licht added. "We've been engaged with his agent recently. I don't know how it's gonna end, but we've been engaged and that's at least some progress." Vea has been present at the Bucs facility, taking part in classroom instruction and observing practice from the sidelines. He has also been seen helping coach teammates up during positional drills, but he isn't physically participating. Vea also is resting a tweaked back that he injured during the team's conditioning test July 28. When asked if he expects Vea to play this season, Licht said: "That's what the hope is, and that's what we're trying to resolve right now." Licht said teams have inquired about Vea, but he emphasized that those talks aren't outside the norm for this time of year, as they often field inquiries and make their own inquiries with other teams in hopes of strengthening their rosters. He said he does feel the relationship is salvageable and that Vea could play in Tampa beyond 2026. As for Mayfield, Licht declined to state the reasons why the Bucs only offered a two-year deal, a source of discontent for the former first overall draft pick who helped Tampa Bay to NFC South titles in 2023 and 2024. "I'm not going to get into specifics about the contract and all that stuff, but yeah -- we do think he is [a franchise quarterback]," said Licht, who added that using the franchise tag on Mayfield is an option for 2027. "We love Baker. ... Baker's in a great place right now. We're in a very good place." Mayfield assembled the team at the start of camp to let them know that despite his frustration of not securing a contract extension, he remained focused, and he has practiced every day. Licht said he respects Mayfield's training camp deadline -- and that he is "all ball" right now. Licht said the Bucs have left the door open if Mayfield and his agent Tom Mills decide they want to resume negotiations. Licht was asked how the organization felt about Mayfield choosing to air out his grievances publicly, which has not typically happened in Tampa. "Baker, as we all know here, is a very fiery competitor that's not afraid to speak his mind," Licht said. "I'm sure -- I know he's disappointed, frustrated. We were too. But like I said, he is, we're in a good place. He's focused on having the best year of his career." Licht was asked if both sides failed to reach an agreement during free agency, would there be consideration for the franchise tag. Sources close to the negotiation told ESPN that Mayfield would be open to the tag. "The franchise tag is a tool. It's an option," Licht said. "It's not necessarily something you want to plan on doing, but you have to in this business, you have to plan on things. ... Different things can go 100 different directions, but it is an option and we can plan - we can do it." Licht, who has been with the organization since 2014, helped lure Tom Brady to Tampa and helped orchestrate their Super Bowl LV title, said he doesn't believe the culture is declining despite two cornerstone pieces publicly expressing frustration over not getting contract extensions. He said the organization has taken a "lot of pride" in its ability to re-sign players. "It's a puzzle. It's challenging," Licht said. "Not every situation is gonna work out the way you want it to. It can be frustrating for both the player and the team, but that's just the way it goes. It's just business." The Bucs organization does have a track record of players playing out their deals versus pre-emptively signing new ones. Wide receiver Mike Evans, the franchise's scoring leader, gave the organization a deadline of the 2023 regular season and he and his agent Deryk Gilmore couldn't come to an agreement. But the two sides came together on a two-year extension that spring. Evans signed with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, but sources in his camp said the situation in 2023 did not play a role in his departure. Tampa Bay also had left tackle Tristan Wirfs -- the first player in NFL history to be named a First-Team All-Pro at both right tackle and left tackle -- play under the fifth-year option before signing a contract extension. Wirfs was even a hold-in during camp for roughly a week before his new deal was signed in 2024. The Bucs have used the franchise tag as a place-holder for new deals -- like first-team All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who was first tagged in March 2024, but in May that year, was named the highest-paid defensive back in the league and became the first safety in league history to become highest-paid. "I understand players wanting extensions and I totally understand that, but sometimes you just don't see eye to eye on certain things," Licht said. "And that's just the way negotiations go. But I have the utmost respect for both of these players. And like I said, it's been very good. The relationship has been very good."