The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a future Hall of Famer in Mike Evans and a quarterback who threw 41 touchdown passes in Baker Mayfield, but left tackle Tristan Wirfs has been so dominant that there isn't even a debate about who the best individual player on this roster is.
Wirfs' rapid rise has seen him claim the top spot on many hypothetical offensive tackle rankings. Wirfs was able to add yet another hypothetical power ranking title to his trophy case, even though he is slated to miss a big chunk of 2025 as he recovers from an injury.
ESPN's ranking of offensive tackles across the NFL in the eyes of scouts and executives has Wirfs right at the top of the list. Considering all the hype that Detroit's Penei Sewell and Philadelphia's bookend pair of Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata have received, that honor was well-earned by Wirfs.
The fact that he is at the very top also underscores the fact that Tampa will need to figure out a way to replicate Liam Coen's high-octane passing offense despite not having an All-Pro left tackle at their disposal. Replacing a player like Wirfs might be too tall a task for this team.
Bucs OT Tristan Wirfs ranked as No. 1 offensive tackle in NFL
Wirfs became the first player in NFL history to be named First Team All-Pro as both a left tackle and right tackle. As ESPN noted, Wirfs has earned these All-Pro honors in his second pro season as both a right tackle and left tackle. That versatility is unheard of.
While the Bucs' offensive line has undergone some wholesale changes as the Tom Brady era transitioned into the Baker Mayfield regime, Wirfs has been the constant, helping Mayfield find his footing as a high-end starter following years of struggles.
The Bucs will need to survive a good chunk of the season without Wirfs, who is recovering from offseason knee surgery. As it stands right now (barring a free agency flier), career spot starter Charlie Heck will be slated to fill in at left tackle. Through no fault of Heck, this constitutes a major downgrade.
Tampa Bay, at full strength, should be considered the favorites to run away with the NFC South. However, losing a player who keeps putting even more distance between himself and the rest of the common rabble in Wirfs is going to be a tough task for any coaching staff to handle.