Derwin James fans the flames of Chargers' potential Vita Vea pursuit

The Los Angeles Chargers aren't known for making splash moves, especially under Joe Hortiz. But when a player like Vita Vea becomes available, you need to perk up your ears.

At least Derwin James thinks so.

Vea requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday as he enters the final season of the four-year, $71 million deal he signed with the organization in 2022. Although the Chargers' need in the defensive tackle room isn't glaring, Vea would be a definite upgrade.

Even if it's not ultimately worth the price of admission, everyone in the league knows this— including James. James made his thoughts clear on Vea's looming trade request in an interview with Kay Adams at training camp today.

Even if it's ultimately not worth the price, Vita Vea is an absolutely tantalizing target for the Chargers

Even in a vacuum, Vea would be a hugely appealing target for the Chargers. Los Angeles' run defense, while solid as a whole last season, was concerningly inconsistent. There were multiple matchups where they gave momentum away to opposing offenses and were never able to claw it back.

Vea would not only be a major boon to their interior defense against the run, but his sheer disruption in the backfield would complement the pass-rush abilities of Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Akheem Mesidor perfectly.

Even at this point in his career, Vea is still one of the league's top defensive tackles, using his sheer size and strength to obliterate opposing offensive lines on a week-to-week basis. He's the type of player that, in an infrastructure like the Chargers have, can help elevate a defense into one of the most formidable units in the NFL.

Across 17 games last season with Tampa Bay, Vea posted an eye-popping 51 total pressures, four sacks, and 21 stops.

But things have been intensified by the rumors that Vea wants to go to a California team (or the Las Vegas Raiders) were he to be dealt. Of course, Las Vegas could be a strong suitor, but they're in a rebuilding phase that could take such a trade off the table. The Los Angeles Rams spent all of their assets this offseason in their pair of blockbuster trades for Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett. And the San Francisco 49ers have their own soft reset to undertake.

In fairness, Los Angeles would likely need to give up a high draft pick in the trade, and that makes it an unlikely move for Hortiz and company.

But unless there's a resolution between Vea and the Buccaneers, the Chargers will be on the top of everyone's minds as the trade saga unfolds. James' contribution will only be the start of the calls for Los Angeles to seriously consider it.

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