The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have benefited from having one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL for the past four years at a low cost. Those days will eventually pass.
According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Tampa Bay offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is set to get a historic paycheck after finishing the final year of his rookie deal in 2024.
“Tristan Wirfs is nearing the final year of his contract. “He’s going to try to surpass the $25 million per year that (offensive tackle) Laramey Tunsil receives in Houston,” Meirov stated. “He began his career at right tackle (and was an All-Pro there) before switching to left tackle last season. Tampa Bay was curious to see how things would unfold. It is time to pay him a large sum of money. Expect him to make more than $25 million per year.
Houston Texans offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil is the highest-paid player at Wirfs’ position, having signed a three-year, $75 million contract in March 2023. Andrew Thomas, an offensive tackle for the New York Giants, received a five-year, $117.5 million contract with a $67 million guarantee before the 2023 season.
Wirfs will most likely try to outperform both of those deals.
Tristan Wirfs is Already one of Bucs’ All-Time Greats
Wirfs was taken with the 13th overall choice from Iowa in the 2020 NFL draft and signed a four-year, $16.2 million contract. The club exercised the fifth-year option, which would pay him $18.2 million in 2024.
Wirfs made the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2020 and helped the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl. He then went on to have back-to-back NFL All-Pro seasons in 2021 and 2022, as well as three Pro Bowl appearances in a row.
Wirfs transitioned from right tackle to left tackle in 2023, the best position on the offensive line, and remained dominant. Wirfs graded out at 86 percent on 777 pass-blocking repetitions, allowed only 24 pressures, and was flagged once, making him one of only four offensive tackles to do so, according to PFF figures.
Wirfs recently made huge personal news when he and his longtime partner, Meredith Sutton, announced the birth of their son, Julius Patrick Wirfs on April 3.
Buccaneers Had Big Offseason Signing Free Agents
The Buccaneers have received plaudits for their offseason following a rather unexpected AFC South division triumph in 2023. The general manager signed quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans to new contracts, placed the franchise tag on NFL All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., and re-signed linebacker Lavonte David.
Wirfs’ contract could be comparable to Mayfield’s three-year, $100 million deal, which could be worth up to $115 million with incentives.
There is already a framework in place for what Wirfs could be looking for. Thomas’ deal with the Giants before the 2023 season set a record among NFL offensive lineman.
Thomas has only made one All-Pro team in four seasons, while Wirfs has made two, and he has yet to appear in a Pro Bowl. The Giants have only made the playoffs once in Thomas’ four seasons, whereas Wirfs has helped the Buccaneers reach the playoffs in each of his first four seasons.
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