Tristan Wirfs’ winters will look a lot different, as the Iowa offensive tackle was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 13th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the first-ever to be held virtually.
Wirfs brings experience from his three years starting at Iowa, including a 2019 Big Ten Offensive Linemen of the Year award. He started mostly at right tackle during his time with the Hawkeyes but has played left tackle as well.
The 6-5, 320-pound tackle will likely be asked to play right away, as the Bucs are in a win-now situation in 2020. Wirfs was consistent, starting in all 13 games for Iowa in 2019 and playing in 35 of his 39 games with the Hawkeyes.
Many draft boards had Wirfs as the top offensive linemen in the draft, but Andrew Thomas, Jedrick Willis, and Mekhi Becton were all drafted within the first 11 picks.
Wirfs will need to improve on things like his footwork and dealing with speed rushers, but power has never been his weakness, so he has the strength and body type to make an impact immediately in Tampa Bay, for a team that has added both Tom Brady and three-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski during the offseason.
The Buccaneers traded with the San Francisco 49ers to move up to the 13th pick and solidify some extra protection for Brady, in a draft that saw four offensive linemen go in the first 13 picks.
