The time is coming for another cornerstone piece of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get paid.
We saw quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans get their paydays this offseason, now it's time for left tackle Tristan Wirfs to get his. The Bucs picked up Wirfs' fifth-year option last year, securing him on the team through the end of the 2024 season and guaranteeing him $18.2 million.
However, there hasn't been much chatter of a contract extension for Wirfs. The Detroit Lions gave their franchise left tackle, Penei Sewell, a four-year, $112 million extension on Wednesday. Sewell is now the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league, which has surely caught the attention of Wirfs.
A first-round pick in 2020, Wirfs is already a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. It's not an exaggeration to say that his career is off to a hall of fame start, making the decision for Tampa Bay to lock him up a no-brainer. An argument could be made that Wirfs is superior to Sewell, who has played one less season than Wirfs.
If and when the Bucs do give Wirfs an extension, it could be worth close to $30 million per year and $90 million in guaranteed money. Don't expect general manager Jason Licht to wait too much longer, as there is no way he should let Wirfs even sniff free agency next year.
More must-reads: