Buccaneers beat writer paints a much calmer picture of Tristan Wirfs' contract situation

Perhaps the biggest piece of unfinished business for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason is getting a deal done with All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs.

He's entering the final year of his rookie contract and has made it known he's uninterested in playing without a new deal. It's a bridge everyone has known the Bucs would need to cross at some point, and the time has come to make Wirfs the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league.

It's a well earned raise, and a move that would lock a key piece of the Bucs core in for the forseeable future. All signs have pointed toward something getting done, from Jason Licht openly saying he's not afraid to make this a record-breaking deal, to Wirfs reporting to training camp and participating in good faith.

A report on Sunday night seemingly threw a wrench in things, though. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Bucs and Wirfs were 'miles apart' in negotiations, but local beat writers were quick to push back on that rumor.

Buccaneers and Tristan Wirfs are 'making progress' on a deal that could be done soon

Despite the rumor by Schultz, Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud offered up a much friendlier assessment of the situation. While he notes that nothing has been agreed to, both sides are making progress and a deal could be done as soon as this week.

"That’s because the Bucs are making progress on a contract that is expected to make Wirfs the highest-paid tackle in the NFL," Stroud reported. "The new deal could be finalized at any time with the team set to finally begin practicing in pads on Monday."

Greg Auman, who is plugged into the Bucs over at FOX Sports had something similar to report, reminding everyone of all the moving parts involved.

He also noted that Wirfs would use an injury designation to get out of padded practice while a deal is worked out, which gets ahead of that being used as a way of framing the negotiations in a certain light.

Not only does what Auman and Stroud are reporting line up with how everyone has expected the Wirfs situation to go, it lines up with how all of the Bucs' offseason talks have gone.

It was reported nationally that Mike Evans was going to test free agency just a few days before he decided to re-sign with the Bucs. Not long after it was reported that Baker Mayfield would hit the market, he signed a $100 million contract extension. Antoine Winfield Jr., after talks didn't seem to be going anywhere, signed a record-setting deal to stay with the Bucs.

Nothing is certain until the ink is dry on a contract, but all signs continue to point toward Wirfs working something out with the Bucs to remain a key piece of Tampa Bay's core. These talks always have bumps in the road, but there's no way the front office is going to let Wirfs get away and it's only a matter of time before something gets done.

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