1.8: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Buccaneers here use their first round pick and eighth overall selection to nab Iowa star offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. The Draft Network has stated that the odds and draft order will not update until week six, so the Buccaneers will be picking eighth overall until then as set by the Super Bowl odds in Las Vegas to start the season.
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Wirfs is a stud and there is no way around it. The Draft Network has Wirfs listed as the second best offensive tackle Andrew Thomas due to a bit of lacking in the run game. However, in the Bruce Arians’ offensive system, the ability to have the time to throw the ball deep is off the most importance, and Wirfs is by far the best roadblock when it comes to stuffing pass rushers off the edge.
As previously mentioned, the regression from 2018 to this season for the longest tenured Buc in Demar Dotson has been evident through the first two weeks of the season. Dotson is entering the last year of his deal, and while it looked unlikely in the first place that the Buccaneers would re-sign him at the end of the year, it is almost a certainty now.
It looks like it is time for Dotson to hang up his cleats, and Wirfs would be an excellent replacement for him. A day-one starter for the Buccaneers, Wirfs is a long term solution in Tampa Bay towards shoring up their offensive front.