Tampa Bay agreed to terms with its projected right tackle starter Wednesday. Tristan Wirfs is now in the fold for the Buccaneers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The fully guaranteed deal tethers Wirfs to the Bucs through 2023, with the fifth-year option covering 2024.
The Bucs traded up one spot, from No. 14 to No. 13, with the 49ers to nab the Iowa blocker. Wirfs was viewed as one of this draft’s top four tackles. He ended up going fourth out of that group, but he is in position to play a key role for the highest-profile Bucs team in at least 17 years.
Wirfs primarily played right tackle for the Hawkeyes, which will make this an easier transition compared to some of his first-round tackle brethren. He blazed to a 4.85-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, doing so despite weighing 320 pounds. Wirfs also set Combine O-line records for the vertical (36.5 inches) and broad jumps (10 feet, 1 inch).
The Bucs opted not to re-sign longtime right tackle starter Demar Dotson, who remains in free agency. Dotson was the Bucs’ primary right tackle for the past eight seasons, but Wirfs is now on track to join left tackle Donovan Smith in Tampa Bay’s starting lineup.
Here is the Bucs’ 2020 draft class:
1-13: Tristan Wirfs, T (Iowa): Signed
2-45: Antoine Winfield Jr., S (Minnesota)
3-76: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB (Vanderbilt)
5-161: Tyler Johnson, WR (Minnesota): Signed
6-194: Khalil Davis, DT (Nebraska): Signed
7-241: Chapelle Russell, OLB (Temple)
7-245: Raymond Calais, RB (Louisiana): Signed
Excellent draft pick. Would’ve fit on any team. Lineman from the Big 10, especially Iowa and Wisconsin do well in the NFL.
Dont forget the best nfl te’s come from iowa too
Kittle, Fant, and Hockenson just in the past three seasons!
Sorry but the best nfl TE came out of Cincinnati
I mean sure at this moment but Kittle might actually be better. I mean he already has a season with more yards than Kelcie ever has and didn’t need 100 catches to do it.
Kelcie plays in a pass happy system, Kittle doesn’t. And with blocking where Kittle is in run system he still graded out as a top 5 blocking TE while Kelcie finished 10th.
Kittle in his third season has the highest catch rate for a season out of both guys. But Kelcie has the higher career catch rate.
I think it’s close but Kittle has a much higher ceiling. Kelcie has just been the definition of consistent and top of the board. But if Kittle gets 1,000 again this year I’d say he’s the best not Kelcie.
Also. Doesn’t Kittle own the single season receiving yards record for TEs in just his third season? Kelcie is 2nd…
His 2nd season. I had to fact check myself. It wasn’t his third.
I was hoping he’s who the Giants would take.
Most underrated draft class this year. Loved their first 5 picks and Calais is also an intriguing and lightning quick scat back.