The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have locked up left tackle Tristin Wirfs for the future, and made NFL history in doing so.
Multiple reports say Wirfs and the Bucs have reached an agreement on a five-year extension worth a whopping $140.63 million, now making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
It is also the largest deal in Bucs franchise history, according to ESPN.
NFL Network reported that Wirfs' extension also includes more than $88 million fully guaranteed.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs, #78, walks onto the field prior to training camp on July 29, 2024 at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Wirfs was set to play in the final year of his rookie contract, as the Bucs quickly exercised his fifth-year option when he arrived.
The Buccaneers and general manager Jason Licht have made their homegrown talent happy this offseason, as wide receiver Mike Evans received a two-year extension worth $41 million to stay, while safety Antoine Winfield Jr. also became the highest-paid player at his position with a four-year extension worth $84.1 million.
BUCCANEERS SECOND STAR ANTOINE WINFIELD JR MAKES NFL HISTORY WITH 4-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
On top of that, Licht and the Bucs loved what they saw from former No. 1 overall draft pick Baker Mayfield in his first season leading the offense in 2023. He proved to be a quarterback they can build around, as he received $100 million over the next three years to remain in Tampa Bay.
As for Wirfs, his $28.1 million-a-year contract extension slightly exceeds the $28 million-a-year the Detroit Lions gave their left tackle, Penei Sewell. However, the 25-year-old has earned the right to be the highest-paid left tackle in the game given his track record.
Tristan Wirfs, #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, watches with offensive assistant Brian Picucci during the Buccaneers' mandatory minicamp at AdventHealth Training Center on June 11, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Iowa product is a Super Bowl champion, having been named a first-team All-Pro that season, and a three-time Pro Bowler over the past three seasons. Perhaps one of the reasons behind Wirfs' historic extension, though, is how he demonstrated his versatility at one of the toughest positions on the field last season.
Wirfs, the Bucs' right tackle for his first three seasons, made the transition to left tackle last year, and Pro Football Focus graded him in the top five at that position.
“The 2020 first-round pick has now posted an 80.0-plus grade in each of his first four seasons and has proven to be an elite pass protector, even if he's not the dominant player on the road like some of his peers are,” Pro Football Focus wrote. “Despite a switch from right tackle to left tackle, he didn't miss a beat in pass protection in 2023, posting a second-best 86.1 pass-blocking grade and allowing just 24 quarterback pressures on 777 pass-blocking snaps.”
Wirfs and the Bucs had a mutual agreement to keep him out of training camp practices while they worked on an extension before the start of the season, and head coach Todd Bowles said the negotiations were in “good faith.”
Tristan Wirfs, #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, celebrates the 30-12 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Raymond James Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
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That much was made clear when the dollar signs certainly matched what Wirfs was looking for to remain a constant on Tampa Bay's offensive line for years to come.
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