Let’s talk about Tristan Wirfs, shall we?

The more exciting periods of the Bucs offseason are over with, as pre-draft scouting, free agency, the NFL Draft, OTAs and mini-camps are over. That means it’s time to settle in for what feels like the longest of waits before training camp gets underway in late July.

The dog days of the NFL offseason are all about storylines for the upcoming season. Media and fans alike spend the days of June and July passing the time with discourse surrounding all sorts of rankings, as well as the big stories that are bound to come up when the season begins in September.

So, with that in mind, the idea here is to narrow in on some of the Bucs’ biggest stars and go player-by-player to dive into the big storylines that are in store for the 2024 season. After covering quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton, we continue today with left tackle Tristan Wirfs.

Bucs Storylines: Tristan Wirfs

Here are three big storylines surrounding Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs in 2024:

What Will Tristan Wirfs’ New Contract Look Like?

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

This first storyline has already begun to play out and should be resolved before the 2024 season even begins. Wirfs is due for a new, long-term mega contract from the Bucs, one that he wants to secure ahead of the new season to obtain some security for himself and his family.

The three-time Pro Bowler is under contract for the 2024 campaign anyway, but only on on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. He’s made it abundantly clear that he wants his new long-term contract to be done as soon as possible, as he was not present for voluntary OTAs earlier this summer, and was present but not practicing during the team’s mandatory mini-camp in June.

Wirfs does not want to risk injury before securing the well-earned contract extension that is likely going to reset the offensive tackle market after Detroit’s Penei Sewell reset it with his four-year, $112 million contract extension earlier this offseason. The Bucs know Wirfs is their franchise left tackle and someone they will continue to build around for years to come, so there’s no doubt that they will continue to work with his camp to get this contract situation taken care of before the new season. That way, they can put the talks in the past and allow Wirfs to focus solely on football.

So, what might this big contract extension look like for Wirfs? Pewter Report’s resident cap expert Josh Queipo wrote after the Sewell contract that Wirfs’ new deal could be four more years on top of 2024 and reset the market in terms of average per year and percentage of cap in the year signed. Queipo also noted that the Bucs have a vested interest in getting the deal done this offseason, as the price tag on big No. 78 will only go up in 2025 as the salary cap increases yet again.

Queipo’s current projection for Wirfs’ new contract is a five-year deal worth $140.8 million, with $75 million guaranteed and an APY of $28.16 million. We should soon see what assistant general manager Mike Greenberg and vice president of football research Jackie Davidson, the team’s capologists, work out with Wirfs and his camp.

Can Tristan Wirfs Be Even Better In His Second Year At Left Tackle?

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

Tristan Wirfs was an immediate contributor when he was drafted No. 13 overall by Tampa Bay in 2020, stepping right in at right tackle and solidifying a Buccaneer offensive line that protected Tom Brady and helped fuel the team’s run to the Super Bowl. He then earned his first Pro Bowl nod, along with a First Team All-Pro selection, in 2021 before reaching another Pro Bowl in 2022. The former Iowa Hawkeye quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s best right tackles.

But in 2023, the Bucs released longtime left tackle Donovan Smith and asked Wirfs to kick over to the left side. The 6-foot-5, 345-pounder clearly had the athleticism, IQ, maturity and overall mindset to make the move seamless, and everyone pretty much knew it would work out from the start.

Everyone except Wirfs, maybe, as he had some doubts to overcome about making such a big transition. But he worked through those, in part with the help of a psychologist, and quickly looked right at home on the left side.

Despite sliding over to left tackle and essentially having to flip the mechanics he sharpened for years (including three seasons at the NFL level), Wirfs maintained the same impressive standard of play. His Pro Football Focus grades remained consistent, as he posted an 83.5 overall grade (after going 84.1, 84.3 and 83.1 in his first three years). His 86.1 pass blocking grade was the second-best of his career, and his 73.8 run blocking grade was almost 10 points better than the mark he finished with in 2022.

Wirfs already cemented himself as a Top 5 left tackle in his first year at the position and made a third straight Pro Bowl, but that happened even with some ups and downs. He wasn’t without growing pains at points during the season, as PFF credited him with a career-high five sacks allowed on the season. But on the whole, he made the switch to left tackle look just about flawless. With a full season at the position now under his belt, it’s fair to expect an even better season out of the 25-year-old in 2024. An even better Tristan Wirfs has to be a scary thought for the rest of the league, doesn’t it?

Can Tristan Wirfs Make Bucs History In 2024?

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

Tristan Wirfs has only been a Buc for four seasons, but he’s well on his way to a Ring of Honor-worthy and Hall of Fame-caliber career. If he’s not the best and/or most-talented offensive lineman in Tampa Bay history yet, it won’t be long before he’s widely considered as such.

He’s become a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro selection, as well as a Super Bowl LV champion, in his first four years. Mind you, he did all of that well before the age of 26. He’s only entering his age-25 season in 2024, and he has a chance to make Bucs history this year.

If Wirfs can make another Pro Bowl in 2024, it’ll be his fourth selection in five years and he’ll be the first Tampa Bay offensive lineman to become a four-time Pro Bowler. He is currently tied with Tony Mayberry for the most Pro Bowl selections among Buccaneer offensive linemen, with both making three. Not only that, but another Pro Bowl nod this season would be the fourth in a row for Wirfs, and that would make him only the second offensive player in franchise history to make four straight. He would join Mike Alstott, who made six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1997-2002.

Beyond further solidifying himself as one of the best offensive players in franchise history, Wirfs would join elite company overall with a fourth straight Pro Bowl. He would be the eighth player in Tampa Bay’s history to accomplish such a feat, joining the likes of these legends:

Derrick Brooks (10 straight, 1997-2006)
Warren Sapp (seven straight, 1997-2003)
Mike Alstott (six straight, 1997-2003)
Gerald McCoy (six straight, 2012-2017)
Lee Roy Selmon (six straight, 1979-1984)
Hardy Nickerson (four straight, 1996-1999)
John Lynch (four straight, 1999-2002)