Vita Vea could be 49ers response to Rams frightening arms race

Vita Vea’s trade request should put the San Francisco 49ers on the phone with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.NFL Network reported that Vea asked to be moved after extension talks stalled.The two-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract with a $17 million base salary, giving San Francisco a rare chance to address one of its most uncertain position groups with a proven difference-maker.The 49ers may also fit Vea’s preferred destination.

Football analyst Ted Nguyen reported on X, citing a source, that Vea “wants to go to a California team or the Raiders.” A return to the Bay Area would carry obvious appeal for Vea, who attended Milpitas High School before becoming the No.12 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.The strongest argument for pursuing him is also the simplest: Vea nearly matched the entire 49ers interior defensive line’s pressure production by himself last season.San Francisco’s defensive tackles combined for 45 pressures in 2025, ranking 25th in the NFL.

Their 7.76% pressure rate finished 31st, allowing quarterbacks to step forward whenever Nick Bosa or another edge defender created pressure from the outside.Vea generated 44 pressures on 479 pass-rushing snaps, including 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 31 hurries.His 9.19% pressure rate and 9.39% pass-rush win rate placed him among the league’s most disruptive interior defenders.That production was not an outlier.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Vea recorded 49 pressures, seven sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss in 2024.

His 10.96% pressure rate ranked among the top 10% of interior defensive linemen.At 6-foot-4 and 347 pounds, Vea is far more than a traditional run-stuffing nose tackle.He can overwhelm single blockers, absorb double teams and collap...