Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs did not report to OTAs and does not plan to in the immediate future as he seeks a long-term contract and does not want to risk injury, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
The two sides have reportedly not made progress on a new deal, according to Fowler. Tristan Wirfs is one of the premier offensive tackles in the NFL, and has been a godsend for the Buccaneers since he was drafted 2020. He became a vital pass protector for Tom Brady at the time, and remains one for Baker Mayfield heading into the 2024 NFL season.
The Buccaneers handed out a lot of money this offseason. They signed free agents Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans. Mayfield had a surprisingly good season in 2023, helping the team get to the playoffs, and Evans is a franchise legend who has been a key player on offense since he was drafted in 2014. Tampa Bay also extended safety Antoine Winfield Jr. on a record-setting deal, making him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL.
Given that the Buccaneers have paid most of the important players on the roster, and that Wirfs is entering a contract year, it is not a surprise to see him miss OTAs. It will be interesting to see if something eventually does get done, or if this results in Wirfs holding out of mandatory minicamp and into training camp, if it does get to that point. That would be detrimental given how important chemistry is on the offensive line.
Wirfs is entering the fifth year of his rookie deal, as that fifth-year option was picked up after his third year in the league. That was a no-brainer decision. Usually, elite players like Wirfs receive extensions after their third season. That was not the case here, and it could result in him getting a larger contract than what he would have gotten if he extended a year or two ago. Regardless, Wirfs should be in line for a large deal in the near future, whether that is before this season starts or after.
What could Tristan Wirfs' next Buccaneers contract look like?
Luckily for Wirfs, one of the top tackles in the league in Penei Sewell already extended with the Detroit Lions, and he received $28 million a year when looking at the average annual value.
Penei Sewell beat out Wirfs for first-team All-Pro this season, but both are in the same tier of players, and usually the player to sign later gets more money. Sewell's contract is likely a benchmark, and that could lead to Wirfs eventually getting $30 million or more per year.
Wirfs is just 25 years old, so he is a player at a high-value position that the Buccaneers would undoubtedly like to keep for the long haul.
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