Latest news with #TristanWirfs
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New NFL Award Could Favor Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Lineman
In the interest of finally marketing the big guys who work the hardest in the trenches and finally putting offensive linemen on center stage, the NFL has announced a new league award. And it seems like something Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs should be up for each and every season he's in the league. Advertisement The Protector of the Year Award will be handed out each year at the NFL Honors presentation show and will recognize the best offensive lineman that season. Former Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth described the award best. 'This award means everything to the big guys up front,' said Whitworth. 'The Protector of the Year isn't just about stats – it's about the mindset, grit, and leadership it takes to be the foundation of a football team. It's time the men who lead, protect, and never ask for credit are recognized as the backbone of this game.' A press release by the NFL noted, "The award honors individual excellence and spotlights offensive linemen, whose contributions are often overlooked in the highlight-driven nature of football. It cements their role as the foundation of every great offense. Currently, offensive linemen are the only players who aren't eligible for most on-field awards." Advertisement The winner will be selected by a panel of former offensive linemen based on skill metrics, impact, leadership, durability and strength of opponent. The initial panel includes former players, LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O'Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Whitworth. As the Bucs' current left tackle, Wirfs is the only player to make the Pro Bowl as a right tackle and a left tackle, and he's been voted to the Pro Bowl in four of his first five seasons in the NFL. The former Iowa Hawkeye has also received two First-Team All-Pro honors and one Second-Team All-Pro honor. Related: Bucs Predicted To Cut Fan-Favorite from Loaded Receivers Room Related: Ex Buccaneers Assistant GM Discusses Tampa Bay Draft Hits and Misses New NFL Award Could Favor Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Lineman first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Star Tristan Wirfs Ranked Near Top of NFL
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Star Tristan Wirfs Ranked Near Top of NFL originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have certainly had stars on their team over the years, but maybe none along the offensive line as highly regarded as Tristan Wirfs. Advertisement After coming to Tampa Bay via the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the 26-year-old former Iowa Hawkeye has made four Pro Bowls total across two different tackle positions, two First-Team All-Pro selections and one Second-Team All-Pro team. He's also been an important part of protecting Tom Brady and now, Baker Mayfield, as the Bucs offense was one of the best in the NFL in 2024. Wirfs has sometimes avoided national media attention and appreciation as the rest of the league doesn't always notice the Bucs and their players for whatever reason, but ProFootballFocus ranked him the No. 2 offensive tackle in the league heading into 2025. "There has been no better pass-blocking offensive tackle in the NFL in recent years than Wirfs. Not only did he permit zero sacks in 2024, but he also allowed pressure on just 1.9% of pass plays — the best rate among all offensive tackles. The gap between Wirfs and the second-place left tackle in pressure rate allowed — 1 percentage point — is the equivalent of the gap between the second- and sixth-ranked left tackles." Advertisement Wirfs is second to just Jordan Mailata of the Philadelphia Eagles, but ahead of other stalwart offensive tackles in the league, like 3. Rahawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers, 4. Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers, 5. Lane Johnson, Eagles, 6. Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions, 7. Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings, 8. Laremy Tunsil, Washington Commanders, 9. Zach Tom, Green Bay Packers and 10. Bernhard Raimann, Indianapolis Colts. Related: Buccaneers 2nd-Round Pick Tabbed 'Rookie to Watch' Related: Bucs One of NFL's Most Complete Teams This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Both sides of the ball present as PFF highlights Bucs best players for 2025
Both sides of the ball present as PFF highlights Bucs best players for 2025 Roster building is the best part of every team's year, especially for their fanbase. It brings hope and optimism as they look towards a new year. Once the dust settles on the moves made by teams, it allows for analysts and media to dissect the moves made by them. Trevow Sikkema of PFF picked up the baton and ran with it as he embarked on the unique journey of finding each team's three best players. For the Bucs, he had players on each side of the ball present as he named Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, and Antoine Winfield Jr. Sikkema writes, "Evans missed time due to a hamstring injury, making his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season a dramatic milestone. Still, he posted the second-highest single-season receiving grade of his career at 90.2. Wirfs had a career year, earning a 94.1 pass-blocking grade while allowing just 13 total pressures on 1,061 snaps. Winfield saw a dip to a 57.8 overall grade in 2024 after dealing with injuries, but he nearly won Defensive Player of the Year the season before and is a strong candidate for a bounce-back campaign." With two of the three players missing a good chunk of 2024, having them back in 2025 should allow for the team to have a complete season. Tristan Wirfs is set for another record-breaking season with honors, as well. Mike Evans will look to break his record-breaking tie with Jerry Rice, and Antoine Winfield Jr. will continue to remind folks that he is his own player despite his dad being one of the best players of the last quarter century.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL announces new award that is primed for Tristan Wirfs to win
NFL announces new award that is primed for Tristan Wirfs to win The NFL has done a tremendous job of marketing its players over the decades, on offense and defense alike. In unique cases, they have even been able to market some kickers and punters. That being said, offensive linemen have seemingly always been forgotten. Much like defense in the NBA, they are one of the most integral parts of the game, but they are often overlooked. When people talk about Michael Jordan, they talk about the scoring titles and championships, not the nine times he was named to the first-team all-defensive NBA team. When it comes to the offensive linemen in the NFL, the league is starting to fix that. On Wednesday, the NFL announced a new award, the Protector of the Year Award, to be given each year at NFL Honors. The league has long wanted to recognize the men who keep their star quarterbacks upright and able to make plays. As for who could be a favorite for that award, Tristan Wirfs should be one of the favorites for award considering his history of accolades. He remains the only offensive lineman to earn All-Pro honors as both a right and left tackle, along with multiple Pro Bowl honors. Wirfs may be the best offensive lineman in the NFL, with or without an award.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bucs EXCLUSIVE as Licht Makes Perfectly Clear NSFW Draft Strategy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has made a name for himself as one of the league's best drafting GMs. Licht hit a home run with his first-ever draft pick after taking over his position with the Bucs by selecting wideout Mike Evans, and he's continued his prowess in the Tampa Bay war room over the years with picks like Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving and Graham Barton, to name a few. Advertisement During a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Licht revealed that he and his staff make a concerted effort to remove potential draftees from their board - players he referred to as "(expletives) and (expletives)." A D-word. And an A-word. In an exclusive visit with us on the JP Peterson Show on Fan Stream Sports on Thursday, he clarified that comment as well as the Bucs' strategy with those players entering each draft. 'We have a long process of defining who we're taking off [the draft board] and who we're not,' Licht said. 'Now just because a guy, maybe people don't like him, or he's a (D-word) or an (A-word), we're not just going to automatically take them off. It's got to affect their football character and it's got to affect the team. Advertisement "There's a lot of people that fit that description that are very good football players and maybe it works in their favor.' While that sounds harsh, Licht qualifies as to what it takes for a guy to be removed from their board before the draft. "[T]here's a difference between a bad guy and an immature person, and we'll take immature and help them develop,' Licht said. 'But, you know, we just don't want people that are going to affect the locker room in a negative way that affects the performance of others and the team.' As with any GM, coach or organization, there are certainly exceptions, and Licht make it known that while there are qualities that are undesireable, it doesn't automatically disqualify a player from the Buccaneers' draft board. Advertisement 'We'll take a guy that's a little bit of (expletive or an expletive) if they can get to the quarterback, for sure,' Licht said. While Peterson lightly pressed the issue of names who have been deleted from draft boards in the past, Licht wouldn't mention specifics, but did say there are typically "20 to 30 names per year or more." The fact that the Bucs have been able to draft successfully most seasons, even after eliminating that many names from their board, is outstanding. Related: Buccaneers Linked To Signing Playmaking DB By Related: NFL QB Rankings: Where Is Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield?
