Tristan Wirfs, The Best Right Tackle?
July 11th, 2021
Right tackle Tristan Wirfs
Last year, Associated Press All-Pro team voters (celebrated JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman is one of the 50 panelists, as is Father Dungy) selected Bucs rookie Tristan Wirfs as the second-team right tackle.
(Of course, he didn’t make the Pro Bowl.)
A rookie making second-team All-Pro on the offensive line is rare. And it seems a select group of folks who work in the NFL believe Wirfs is the best right tackle in the game.
Jeremy Fowler of BSPN continues his series on the best players at each position. Fowler bases his list on feedback obtained from confidential sources. Most of them are suits (aka NFL executives).
Among his top-10 of offensive tackles — Fowler doesn’t differentiate between left or right — he has Wirfs ranked No. 8. However, the first seven are all left tackles.
Therefore, Wirfs is his No. 1 right tackle.
8. Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 14
Age: 22 | Last year’s ranking: N/AAs a rookie in Tampa Bay, Wirfs played with the savvy of a Pro Bowler in his seventh season. His 89.1% pass block win rate over 1,015 regular-season snaps was impressive, and that rate jumped to 98% in the playoffs.
“He’s just a really good lineman,” an NFC exec said. “He’s not necessarily an [unusual] athlete with his feet, but he’s a very good athlete overall and doesn’t give up much. Plus, he plays with Tom Brady, who gets the ball out really fast. Not sure if the talent level is elite, but he proved early that he will be productive for a long time.”
Tampa is ecstatic that Wirfs fell to it at No. 13 overall in the 2020 draft. Wirfs had a better rookie year than Becton, but many voters prefer the upside of the Jets tackle.
That blocking win-rate in the playoffs blows Joe’s mind. It’s not like Wirfs was playing a bunch of slapd!ck teams. This was the cream of the crop.
If you are winning your blocks at a 98 percent clip — as a rookie, no less! — son, you can block.
Right now there is no question in Joe’s mind that Mike Evans is the best pick every made by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. If Wirfs continues this kind of play, he’s going to give Evans a run for his money.
July 11th, 2021 at 8:10 am
Licht has one chronic flaw….u just KNOW that he’s itching to draft a kicker as soon as his eyeballs open every morning.
July 11th, 2021 at 8:29 am
I can only imagine what a year of experience against some of the best in the league will do for Wirfs’ performance in 2021. If the dude doesn’t make All Pro this year, it will be surprising. Plus, he’s really a decent guy! So glad he’s a Buc.
July 11th, 2021 at 8:36 am
Soon to be best LT in the NFL.
BTW, what was Durable Donnie’s success rate?
July 11th, 2021 at 8:39 am
Tristan Wirfs should be a left tackle and Donovan Smith should move to Right tackle. Just saying.
July 11th, 2021 at 8:50 am
Bama, Wirfs stays put. Don’t fix what isn’t broken. Without the play of the entire line together, Lombardi doesn’t come to Tampa.
July 11th, 2021 at 9:09 am
I’m guessing three years from now you’ll see Wirfs moved to left tackle.
July 11th, 2021 at 9:27 am
Are you running out of things to say, Pete?
July 11th, 2021 at 9:47 am
O-linemen are underrated as athletes.
July 11th, 2021 at 9:49 am
Bama – Donnie is NOT a right tackle, even if Wirfs could play LT.
July 11th, 2021 at 10:24 am
Sorry to be “that guy,” but Ryan Ramczyk was the 2nd team all pro at RT. Whirfs was 3rd in the voting in the link provided and absent from the official AP list on nfl.com. Dang impressive that he missed the honor by only 1 vote though!
July 11th, 2021 at 10:37 am
Imagine, if you will, the difference between Devin White’s second year versus rookie year. Now, superimpose that development onto Wirf’s rookie year and just dream…..
July 11th, 2021 at 10:41 am
Wirfs will move to LT next year and we will draft a RT.
We’ll be stronger, better and save some money.
We need linemen who look to block someone else after they take care of their first responsibility.
Watch Donnie.
One and done.
July 11th, 2021 at 10:56 am
If Wirfs had been drafted by the Giants or Cowboys, he would have been 1st team ALL Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl. I always view these lists with skepticism.
July 11th, 2021 at 10:57 am
Oline is where it all begins. The rookie gave up one sack in 16 games to Khalil Mack. That’s beyond amazing. Still waiting to watch a battle royal between Smith, Vea, and Wirfs in the weight room.
July 11th, 2021 at 11:10 am
SOEbuc, no contest on the weights. Vea will win hands down. The dude has a reputation for his ungodly strength.
July 11th, 2021 at 11:40 am
Omfg. And that’s the kinda money Donovan Smith makes!!! What a disgrace. People weren’t lying when they say the Bucs are gonna be in cap hell after the starters resigned. Smith, Jensen, and RoJo need be shown the door at the end of the year. Miller needs to be traded before his contract season comes up. If you weren’t willing to give Hump $10 million but you’re willing to give Miller $7-$10 million would be a f#cking joke.
July 11th, 2021 at 11:48 am
Pablo thinks Miller is better then Adam Hump
July 11th, 2021 at 12:09 pm
PSL Bob
A lot of guys say Donny is the strongest. Makes it that much worse that he crumbles like a jenga game on the inside all the time. Everyone knows the boulder story and the pool jumping story. Those guys actually know how to channel that onto the field.
July 11th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
Pablo is an idiot.
July 11th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
At least when Hump was with the Bucs.
July 11th, 2021 at 1:10 pm
Agree with most of that SOE
July 11th, 2021 at 1:26 pm
“Not sure if the talent level is elite.”
If the guys he stonewalled each week were elite I’m pretty sure Wirf’s talent level is elite.
July 11th, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Mort Says: “Bama – Donnie is NOT a right tackle, even if Wirfs could play LT.”
Donovan Smith is 330 lbs and pretty descent as a run blocker. He would dominate at Right Tackle, especially as a pass blocker.
July 11th, 2021 at 5:57 pm
I have to admit, I was wrong about Wirfs. I watched a Voch Lombardi film breakdown of him, and it looked like Wirfs wouldn’t be as good as he was in his rookie year (it looked like technical issues, which surprised me from an Iowa OL). I’m happy to be wrong, it was a great success for both him and the Bucs.
July 12th, 2021 at 1:09 am
Man, what a great job Licht has done with a lot of his picks. Evans, Wirfs, Devin, and maybe Vita if he stays healthy, look at worst like locks for the ring of honor.