Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs has been one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles since being drafted 13th overall back in 2020. At his current trajectory and still just 25 years old, Wirfs has a chance to solidify himself as one of the game’s greatest upfront when it’s all said and done.

Wirfs also can do it while remaining in red and pewter, as both he and the team are continuing to negotiate a long-term deal to keep him in Tampa Bay. The latest entry in ESPN’s annual rankings of each position continues with the offensive tackles, and league executives, coaches, and scouts were especially complimentary of the value he brings in the trenches.

AFC Scout On Tristan Wirfs: “The Things He Can Do At His Size Are Rare”

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

Tristan Wirfs is truly a rare breed when it comes to offensive tackles.

After hitting the ground running to begin his NFL career as an elite right tackle, Wirfs made the risky move of switching sides to protect quarterback Baker Mayfield’s blindside at left tackle last season.

It was a move that mentally weighed on him, but it did not show on the field as he seamlessly transitioned and did not miss a beat. Wirfs’ ability to do so and his overall skillset saw him rank 4th in ESPN’s offensive tackle ranking behind 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, Lions right tackle Penei Sewell, and Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil. This was the explanation of his ranking.

Already an All-Pro at right tackle, the Bucs asked Wirfs to move to left tackle in 2023. He did so successfully, helping Tampa reach the playoffs in Baker Mayfield’s first year at quarterback.

The feeling is Wirfs could be higher on the list next year, after another full season on the left side. And the voting was very close among Sewell, Tunsil and Wirfs. These three appeared on every ballot.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s so f—ing talented that, even though it was an adjustment early in the year and he had been dominant on the right side, he started to play at a high level later and was much better as the season progressed,” an NFL personnel evaluator. “Super athlete, real light feet, broad, slides well.”

Wirfs, a 2025 free agent, could become the highest-paid left tackle this summer.

“The things he can do at his size are rare,” an AFC scout said.

Tristan Wirfs Has A Chance To Be Even Better In 2024 Settling In As Bucs LT

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As mentioned, it is likely that after another season settling in on the left side, Tristan Wirfs will be even better in 2024. After playing the second half of the season with both a nagging ankle injury and a separated shoulder, the 6-foot-5, 345-pound Pro Bowl offensive lineman will be healthier and more comfortable in his post. That should translate to more consistent high-end play.

If that winds up being the case, it will only help Wirfs’ argument to climb higher in the rankings next season. While Trent Williams has long established himself as a generational talent at offensive tackle and is aging like a fine wine, Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil, and Wirfs are next up in the conversation among the game’s best at the position.

After Detroit re-signed Sewell to a massive deal this offseason, it has impacted and changed the timeline for Wirfs to get his own big payday. The two will likely be linked at the hip for the rest of their playing careers, just like how Wirfs and Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. have been.

Both 2020 draftees came into the league together and are arguably the two best players on the team. After Winfield ranked first among safeties, it is only fitting that Wirfs ranks near the top among offensive tackles.

The next step for the Bucs is giving their stud left tackle a new deal that could make him the highest-paid offensive tackle in NFL history, just like how ‘Tweez’ became the highest-paid defensive back. Time will tell when that happens, but there is little doubt that the team has two cornerstone players to build around, as these rankings have further asserted.