Tristan Wirfs “Worth Every Single Penny”
August 6th, 2024
Approves Tristan Wirfs’ contract.
It sounds like Marcus Spears thinks Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht got a steal last week when he made left tackle Tristan Wirfs the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL (pending Trent Williams’ new deal).
Spears, speaking on BSPN’s NFL Live, left no doubt that he believes Wirfs is a rare talent and the Bucs would have been very hard-pressed to replace him if they let Wirfs walk in free agency next March.
“I’m telling you right now,” said the former Cowboys defensive lineman, “when you watch Tristan Wirfs play football, he’s worth every single penny.
“Wirfs is worth it bro, I’m telling ya.”
Spears broke it down further. Often, he said, a team can find a solid if not good pass blocker. Often a team can find a solid if not good run blocker. But Wirfs, Spears explained, is excellent at both.
You do not let those guys escape by nickel-and-diming them, he said.
“The physicality [Wirfs has] in the run game — it is hard to find a two-dimensional man. Now you’ve got some guys who can pass-set and they are phenomenal at keeping guys off the edge.
“But sometimes when you want to run left, or you want to run right and you have a road grader, like [Wirfs] can be in the run game, that’s difficult for d-linemen.”
If there was a sin that former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales committed, it was his allergy to running behind Wirfs last season. As documented by Sharp Football Analysis, the Bucs ran to the left the fewest times of all their run plays. Yet that is exactly where the Bucs had their best success running the ball.
And yes, running left meant running behind Wirfs.
Let’s hope current Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen recognizes this trait quicker than Canales — provided Canales ever did.
.@mspears96 says Tristan Wirfs is "worth every single penny" of his $140.64M contract extension with Tampa Bay 💰 pic.twitter.com/CzRNFDNqhx
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) August 1, 2024
August 6th, 2024 at 6:38 am
Canales is right where he belongs. Running a train wreck of a football organization.
August 6th, 2024 at 8:38 am
Wirfs contract reset the market for LT. Let’s see what Trent Williams deal looks like.
Why this is interesting …
The market for a QB is $50M/y
The market for a LT is now $28M/y
That means every team that just signed a $50M QB deal will soon have to commit $78M or $255M to two players. That only leaves $3.4M per player for the rest of the team.
Most teams will be handcuffed while the Bucs get to spend $20M in Baker savings on more talent.
August 6th, 2024 at 9:06 am
It’s funny to watch the media slowly start to realize that the Bucs have the potential to be a contender this year.
August 6th, 2024 at 9:36 am
He’s just Wirf-It. Period.
August 6th, 2024 at 9:48 am
I think it’s the way to go, Sly! Unless, you find yourself in a Mahomes type of situation. It is INSANE to me to just handout $50M+ (per season) to mostly unproven (and in some cases often injured) QB’s such as Tua, Love, Lawrence, & etc. There HAS TO BE a ‘middle-ground, – I’ve been saying it since Baker in Cleveland. Now, it didn’t work out for him, but just shoot me if someone hands Dak $60M. It’s Stupid. Build your team, roster, system, & culture FIRST… Do NOT be held hostage like that, by some of these guys! Be Smart.
August 6th, 2024 at 10:19 am
The more I think about Canalwater last season, the more I need to vomit.
August 6th, 2024 at 1:56 pm
I like what he said about Wirfs ans I agree, but I also like the rest of the analysis. We ARE going to be sneaky good! If that offensive line comes together, watch out! And he didn’t even bring up Bucky and who knows how far along Durham will come. Our speedster in Palmer has a decent amount of experience now. The offensive line just can’t handle very many injury issues. That line has to stay healthy.