Bucs left sort out Tristan Wirfs has been one of many NFL’s greatest offensive tackles since being drafted thirteenth total again in 2020. At his present trajectory and nonetheless simply 25 years previous, Wirfs has an opportunity to solidify himself as one of many recreation’s best upfront when it’s all mentioned and carried out.
Wirfs can also do it whereas remaining in crimson and pewter, as each he and the crew are persevering with to barter a long-term deal to maintain him in Tampa Bay. The most recent entry in ESPN’s annual rankings of every place continues with the offensive tackles, and league executives, coaches, and scouts have been particularly complimentary of the worth he brings within the trenches.
AFC Scout On Tristan Wirfs: “The Issues He Can Do At His Dimension Are Uncommon”
Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Picture by: USA At this time
Tristan Wirfs is really a uncommon breed relating to offensive tackles.
After hitting the bottom working to start his NFL profession as an elite proper sort out, Wirfs made the dangerous transfer of switching sides to guard quarterback Baker Mayfield’s blindside at left sort out final season.
It was a transfer that mentally weighed on him, however it didn’t present on the sector as he seamlessly transitioned and didn’t miss a beat. Wirfs’ capacity to take action and his total skillset noticed him rank 4th in ESPN’s offensive sort out rating behind 49ers left sort out Trent Williams, Lions proper sort out Penei Sewell, and Texans left sort out Laremy Tunsil. This was the reason of his rating.
Already an All-Professional at proper sort out, the Bucs requested Wirfs to maneuver to left sort out in 2023. He did so efficiently, serving to Tampa attain the playoffs in Baker Mayfield’s first yr at quarterback.
The sensation is Wirfs may very well be increased on the record subsequent yr, after one other full season on the left aspect. And the voting was very shut amongst Sewell, Tunsil and Wirfs. These three appeared on each poll.
Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“He’s so f—ing gifted that, although it was an adjustment early within the yr and he had been dominant on the appropriate aspect, he began to play at a excessive stage later and was a lot better because the season progressed,” an NFL personnel evaluator. “Tremendous athlete, actual mild ft, broad, slides properly.”
Wirfs, a 2025 free agent, might change into the highest-paid left sort out this summer time.
“The issues he can do at his dimension are uncommon,” an AFC scout mentioned.
Tristan Wirfs Has A Probability To Be Even Higher In 2024 Settling In As Bucs LT
Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
As talked about, it’s doubtless that after one other season settling in on the left aspect, Tristan Wirfs will likely be even higher in 2024. After enjoying the second half of the season with each a nagging ankle harm and a separated shoulder, the 6-foot-5, 345-pound Professional Bowl offensive lineman will likely be more healthy and extra snug in his submit. That ought to translate to extra constant high-end play.
If that winds up being the case, it can solely assist Wirfs’ argument to climb increased within the rankings subsequent season. Whereas Trent Williams has lengthy established himself as a generational expertise at offensive sort out and is getting older like a high-quality wine, Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil, and Wirfs are subsequent up within the dialog among the many recreation’s greatest on the place.
After Detroit re-signed Sewell to an enormous deal this offseason, it has impacted and altered the timeline for Wirfs to get his personal massive payday. The 2 will doubtless be linked on the hip for the remainder of their enjoying careers, identical to how Wirfs and Bucs security Antoine Winfield Jr. have been.
Each 2020 draftees got here into the league collectively and are arguably the 2 greatest gamers on the crew. After Winfield ranked first amongst safeties, it is just becoming that Wirfs ranks close to the highest amongst offensive tackles.
The subsequent step for the Bucs is giving their stud left sort out a brand new deal that might make him the highest-paid offensive sort out in NFL historical past, identical to how ‘Tweez’ grew to become the highest-paid defensive again. Time will inform when that occurs, however there may be little doubt that the crew has two cornerstone gamers to construct round, as these rankings have additional asserted.
