Tristan Wirfs has separated himself from the rest of Tampa Bay’s recent first-round class, and it isn’t particularly close.
Among the 191 first-round picks taken since 2020, Wirfs checks in at No. 9 in Renner’s ranking, making him the Buccaneers’ highest-rated selection of the decade. That lines up with the broader respect he has earned around the league: Wirfs was also named the ninth-best franchise player in the entire NFL.
The resume explains why. In six seasons with Tampa Bay, Wirfs has made five Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors three times.
Drafted 13th overall in 2020, he has become a dominant force at left tackle, giving the Buccaneers elite play at one of football’s most important positions. Renner even called him the best value pick among first-round offensive linemen this decade and tied his impact to Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV run.
“While he fell into their lap, Tristan Wirfs is easily the best value pick among first-round offensive linemen this decade. I'd argue his unlikely immediate impact made the difference in the Bucs becoming Super Bowl champions in 2020.”
The rest of Tampa Bay’s first-round group since 2020 has been a mixed but encouraging haul. Emeka Egbuka comes next for the Bucs at No. 63, followed by Calijah Kancey at No.
80, Graham Barton at No. 114, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at No. 149.
Tryon-Shoyinka has since retired.
Egbuka’s ranking reflects the promise he showed in a strong rookie season, while Kancey flashed like one of the league’s best young defensive tackles before a torn pec wiped out most of his 2025 season. Barton lands in the solid starter range, giving Tampa another useful piece from the same stretch. Tryon-Shoyinka is the lone clear disappointment in the group.
Put together, the Bucs have one true home run, two players with star-level upside, one dependable starter, and one miss. That kind of hit rate is a big reason Tampa Bay is expected to climb back to the top of the NFC South in 2026.
And with Rueben Bain Jr. now added at pick No. 15 this year, the comparison to Wirfs is obvious. Bain also landed in Tampa’s lap in a spot that felt a lot like Wirfs’ arrival in 2020, and the question now is whether the Buccaneers can get the same kind of rookie-year payoff all over again.
In Other News...
Raymond James Lands A Massive College Football Showcase For Tampa
The annual Georgia-Florida rivalry game is headed for a temporary change of scenery, and Tampa is getting a rare turn in the spotlight. With EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville set for renovations, the matchup will move away from its longtime home, giving one of college footballs marquee neutral-site games a different backdrop for the next couple of seasons.
The 2026 edition is expected to land in Atlanta before the series shifts to Raymond James Stadium in 2027, bringing a major showcase to the Buccaneers building. For a game that has long been one of the sports biggest destination events, the stop in Tampa offers a fresh stage while Jacksonville gets its stadium work done. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Just Got An Unexpected Opening In The NFC South
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For a division race that often comes down to who survives the grind, that matters. Tampa Bay is trying to build on last season and take back control of the South, and the opening weeks now look like a chance to separate before the standings even start to take shape. Whether that edge lasts is another question, but it is the kind of early break a contender notices. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers May Have One More Move To Fix Their Biggest Weak Spot
Tampa Bay has already done plenty of work to reshape its linebacker room for 2026, bringing in Alex Anzalone and using the draft to add Josiah Trotter. Even with those moves, the Buccaneers still look like a team that could use one more veteran presence at the position, especially after spending the offseason trying to shore up what had become a clear weak spot.
One name now floating into that conversation is a Miami linebacker who fits the kind of role Tampa Bay could still use, particularly if the room remains crowded in South Florida. No deal has been confirmed, but the logic is easy to see from the Buccaneers' side: an experienced defender with coverage ability could give them depth, insurance and a little more certainty if the younger pieces need time to settle in. [Read more 🡒]