Where Does Tristan Wirfs Rank Among Players Under 25?

In 2022, Wirfs delivered another phenomenal season. He made it three in three years, and he’s already cemented himself as one of the best offensive linemen in Tampa Bay’s history. He’s on track for Bucs Ring of Honor status and potentially a Hall of Fame induction at his current pace.

And as the Bucs move into a new era without Tom Brady, Tristan Wirfs stands out as one of the team’s building blocks for the future. He only just turned 24 in January. As a result, he was eligible to make the list of top 25 players under the age of 25, as ranked by Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema (who of course is a former Pewter Reporter as well).

So, where did Wirfs land on the list? He was inside the top five, coming in at No. 3. Only Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (No. 2) and Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons (No. 1) ranked ahead of him.

Here’s what Sikkema had to say about the Bucs’ top tackle:

“Wirfs’ overall grade took somewhat of a step back in 2022, dropping from 84.3 the previous season to 83.1 last year, but his pass-blocking grade jumped to a near-elite 89.1. He allowed just six total pressures on 696 pass-blocking snaps. His consistently strong play bodes well for his transition from right tackle to left tackle this upcoming season.”

Tristan Wirfs Looks To Carry Dominance Over To Left Side Of The Line

With the Bucs releasing longtime left tackle Donovan Smith this offseason and not adding a replacement in free agency or the draft, Tristan Wirfs is primed for a move from the right side to the left. And as he makes that move, he’ll look to carry over the dominance he’s displayed for the first three years of his career.

As a rookie, Wirfs allowed one sack in 799 pass blocking snaps. In his 2021 All-Pro season, he allowed just 12 pressures (and a 1.6% pressure rate) despite logging nearly 800 pass blocking snaps. And just last year, Wirfs had the lowest pressure rate — 0.9% — among those with a minimum of 500 pass block attempts.

Making the transition from one side of the line to the other is sure to present some challenges, but Wirfs is up to the task. He already started training at left tackle earlier this offseason to “cover his bases” as he puts it. And it’s not as if the left side is completely foreign to him, as he played there at times during his college career at Iowa.

There could be something of an adjustment period, but for someone as athletic and intelligent as Tristan Wirfs, there’s little reason to doubt that the transition will prove to be a fruitful one for both him and the Bucs. And having one of the best under-25 players anchoring the offensive line at left tackle is certainly going to serve Tampa Bay well for the foreseeable future.