Bucs GM: Position change for Tristan Wirfs not a given

Tristan Wirfs Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs GM: Position change for Tristan Wirfs not a certainty

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 5/3/23

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers opted not to draft a tackle to replace Donovan Smith during the 2023 NFL Draft, it was all-but-assumed that Tristan Wirfs would move from right to left tackle.

During a recent interview on “The Jay and Z Show,” though, Bucs general manager Jason Licht stated that while the team is leaning toward a position change for Wirfs, nothing has been 100 percent decided.

"We certainly feel very comfortable with a person like Tristan, with his skillset and his athleticism and size and intelligence and all that, that [moving to left tackle] is going to be pretty seamless, but that hasn't completely been etched in stone yet,” Licht said. “Now, we're still going to remain fluid here in the offseason. We're going to see how it goes, and we just want to make sure that we're putting the best five out there.”

Yesterday, #GoBucs GM Jason Licht said moving Tristan Wirfs to Left Tackle wasn’t etched in stone. @TKras shared his thoughts as to why. What did you think of Licht’s comments?@RonnieNTL @TKras @TheChrisMathis pic.twitter.com/zj2tw2OM7Q
— 95.3 WDAE & AM 620 (@953WDAE) May 3, 2023

The 13th overall pick in 2020, Wirfs has already built an impressive resume. In three seasons, he has started 46 games, made two Pro Bowls, been named a first-team All-Pro, a second-team All-Pro and won a Super Bowl.

The 24-year-old out of Iowa allowed just three sacks and six pressures in 2022 and has never surrendered more than three sacks or 24 pressures in any pro season.

Should Wirfs shift to the left side in actuality, the Bucs would likely move Luke Goedeke to his old spot at right tackle. Although most of his snaps have come at left guard (539 to be exact), Goedeke did see 55 snaps of action at right tackle last year.

“We feel good about Luke (moving to RT),” Licht added. “We feel that he can [play at a high level] at right tackle. But you know, we still have time just to make sure that we're putting (the offensive linemen) in the right spots."

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