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Vita Vea of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After three years with the Chicago Bears, veteran defensive tackle Andrew Billings is expected to hit free agency.
Big Bill played in 42 games for Chicago in that span, starting 39. He has been one of the Bears’ best run-stoppers, but he the team could — and should — be looking to upgrade.
Gervon Dexter is heading into a pivotal Year 4, and Shemar Turner is coming off a major knee injury suffered as a rookie last season. And while veteran Grady Jarrett can still be productive, he’ll be 33 in April and he missed some time in 2025 with a nagging knee injury.
With Billings likely on the way out, it might behoove Chicago to add another veteran, and a surprising player could wind up being available.
Vita Vea Named Potential Shocking Cut in 2026
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon predicted the NFL’s “most shocking cuts” of the offseason, and he named one that should absolutely interest the Bears: current Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT Vita Vea.
“The aging Bucs have a lot of tough decisions to make with expensive veterans this offseason, and Vea saw his productivity drop off in his age-30 season,” Gagnon wrote on February 20. “He’s still a critical member of the defense but could be declining after eight years. Vea will cost the Bucs $22.2 million, unless he restructures or the team releases him to generate $15.7 million in salary-cap savings for 2026.”
Considering what Vea has meant to the Bucs over the past eight years, it would be quite the surprise if they were to let him go.
“The Bucs have two top-30 free agents in Jamel Dean and Mike Evans and may be looking for somewhat of a refresh,” Gagnon added. “It’s more likely they work something out just because his departure would leave a hell of a hole up front.”
Evans is going to test free agency for the first time in his career, so it is possible Tampa Bay could be looking for fresh faces on both sides of the ball.
A Closer Look at Vea’s Career
GettyTampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea has been named a potential surprise cut this offseason. If that happens, the Chicago Bears should sign him, stat.
At 6-foot-4 and roughly 347 pounds, Vea has been one of the most physically imposing defensive tackles in the league over the last decade.
Since entering the NFL in 2018 as the 12th overall pick, Vea has been a consistent leader on Tampa Bay’s D-line. Over his career, the two-time Pro Bowler has amassed 35 sacks, 79 QB hits and 48 tackles-for-loss. In 2025, he logged more than 760 snaps and posted 4.5 sacks, and a year earlier, he recorded a career-high 7.0 sacks.
Vea suffered a broken ankle in 2020, costing him most of that season. He returned late that year and played a key role in Tampa Bay’s championship run, and he hasn’t suffered a significant injury since.
Why the Chicago Bears Should Sign Veteran DT Vita Vea if He’s Cut By Buccaneers
Vea is set to carry a cap hit of more than $22 million in 2026. If he does reach free agency, he is likely to have interest from several teams, and could command around $13-$15 million per season depending on how many potential suitors he has.
There’s no denying that the addition of Vea could help bring stability to the middle of Chicago’s D-line. He could help improve a run defense that allowed 5.0 yards per carry last year while also putting some much-needed pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He’s older and a little more expensive, but with Billings likely leaving, Turner recovering and Jarrett aging, the Bears could use some DT depth.
Every year brings surprise veteran cuts. If Vea is one of them this year, the Bears should pounce.
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