TAMPA — What attracted the Bucs to Tristan Wirfs was his ability to knock down defensive linemen, but he’s also maybe the biggest reason the franchise is back on its feet.
The first-round pick in 2020 allowed only one sack of Tom Brady as a rookie right tackle on the Super Bowl 55 championship team. Four connective playoff appearances later, Wirfs anchors a rebuilt offensive line that is perhaps the Bucs’ best since he entered the league.
Last year, Wirfs was asked to switch from right to left tackle with guard Luke Goedeke moving to right tackle. Now the Bucs could have a couple of bookend pass protectors for years to come to go along with rookie center Graham Barton and second-year right guard Cody Mauch.
That’s because the Bucs are making progress on a contract that is expected to make Wirfs the highest-paid tackle in the NFL, exceeding the the $28 million average of Lions tackle Penei Sewell and $26 million average salary of the Vikings’ Christian Darrisaw.
Wirfs, 25, was scheduled to play under the Bucs’ fifth-year option of $18.6 million. He reported to training camp and has been a full participant. But the new deal could be finalized at any time with the team set to finally begin practicing in pads on Monday.
Wirfs finished last season as one of the top five highest-graded offensive linemen with an 84.3 pass blocking grade by Pro Football Focus, just one point behind Darrisaw.
“It’s huge,” Goedeke said Sunday of the chance to play with Wirfs. “I mean, our childhood dream was to get drafted, and I remember idolizing Tristan when I was in college. And the fact I got drafted here and now I’m playing with him and have had the success we’ve had so far and will continue to have, it’s truly a blessing.
“I can’t emphasize how grateful I am for the guy. Just going out here every day, whether it’s in the offseason, in season, always putting in the work together, always bouncing off ideas together, even just the camaraderie outside of football. He’s just an all-round great guy, and forever thankful he’s one of my great friends.”
Given his contract situation, Wirfs could have stayed away from the Bucs in the offseason. But he was in the facility training even though he did not participate in any field work, not even during the mandatory minicamp.
But when training camp began Wednesday, Wirfs went to work in good faith that the Bucs would continue to make progress on his contract.
Wirfs is the only remaining only offensive lineman from the Bucs’ last world championship team.
Guard Ali Marpet stunned the Bucs by retiring after the 2021 season at age 28 after earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Guard Alex Cappa signed with the Bengals as a free agent in 2022. Center Ryan Jensen suffered a career-ending knee injury the second day of training camp in 2022 and has retired. Left tackle Donovan Smith moved on to Kansas City in 2023 and won another Lombardi Trophy with the Chiefs. He currently is a free agent.
The defections have been felt particularly in the run game, where the Bucs have finished last each of the past two seasons.
Goedeke struggled as a rookie attempting to make the switch to left guard. But he proved to be a much better player at right tackle last season.
“As a whole offensive line up front, I think we’re looking really, really strong this year,” Goedeke said. “Just building that continuity across the line, communication and understanding where the back is trying to hit it, just stuff like that.”
“At the end of the day, it’s going to take a little time, but I could see it already during (voluntary offseason workouts) what it can be — just the gashes we’ve had already.”
Goedeke said the offensive scheme under new coordinator Liam Coen already has enabled the Bucs to improve in the run game after only four training camp practices.
“It’s a completely new different offense,” he said. “We’ve got more motions than I’ve ever seen before in my life, we’ve got different schemes. It’s a lot more extensive and everything, a lot more for the defense to try to lock in on.”
The Bucs believe Barton, at 6-foot-5, 313 pounds and extremely athletic, is an upgrade over Robert Hainsey, who started the past two seasons. Mauch has put on at least 10-15 pounds of muscle in the offseason.
“He was training” Goedeke said. “He did stay here and train most of the offseason. He definitely put on some weight and muscle. He’s looking great out there, and he moves really well and everything as well.”
All that’s left is for Wirfs to get his big payday.
General manager Jason Licht said recently he doesn’t mind making Wirfs the NFL’s highest-paid tackle. In May, Licht rewarded safety Antoine Winfield Jr. with a four-year, $84.1 million extension that included $45 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive back in the history of the game.
A similar record-setting deal for Wirfs’ at tackle won’t swell his head.
But his bank account could grow by leaps and bounds any day.
