Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Tristan Wirfs in 2020 NFL Draft: Grading the Pick

After trading up to the 13th overall pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Iowa tackle Tristan Wirfs to help protect new quarterback Tom Brady.

Following a franchise-altering free agency period in which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added legendary quarterback Tom Brady and arguably the best tight end of all time in Rob Gronkowski, there was just one major hole on offense: right tackle.

General manager Jason Licht decided to be aggressive in filling this spot, trading up one spot to No.13 overall to select Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, who was arguably the top tackle in a deep 2020 NFL Draft class.

Longtime right tackle Demar Dotson is currently a free agent, so right tackle was definitely a problem area. With Brady turning 43 later this year, protection for him is paramount. Wirfs was a stud right tackle during his time with the Hawkeyes, consistently performing against the best defensive linemen in the Big 12 week in and week out.

Each day in practice, he would have to face off against teammate A.J Epenesa, who will likely be a late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick in this year’s draft.

Pretty much every projection over the past few months have had Wirfs off the board by the time the Bucs were on the board, so it’s not surprising that Licht gave up their fourth-rounder to move up one spot and pick the athletic former Hawkeye.

If left tackle Donovan Smith continues to display his inconsistent form and the front office decides to move on from him, Wirfs could theoretically slide over to the blindside even though he played at right tackle with Iowa.

Bleacher Report’s Mike Tanier gave the pick an A+, and honestly, I’d have to agree. It was worth trading up one pick to make sure that Wirfs would be rocking red and pewter in the fall. One last thing to leave you with: take a look at this video of Wirfs leaping out of a pool. Talk about explosiveness.