The Washington Commanders kick off the 2024 NFL season on Sunday against the defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As we look ahead to the Week 1 matchup and assess Tampa Bay’s roster, it gives us at Commanders Wire the opportunity to sit in general manager Adam Peters’ seat and hypothetically steal one player from the Buccaneers.
While the Bucs have talent across the roster, this one is pretty obvious as it matches a significant need for the Commanders: Left tackle Tristan Wirfs.
Wirfs recently became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history, agreeing to a new five-year contract worth $140.63 million last month. Wirfs, who is only 25, began his NFL career at right tackle before moving to left tackle. In four NFL seasons, Wirfs has been named to the Pro Bowl three times and is a one-time first-team All-Pro selection and also a second-team All-Pro.
Wirfs has only missed four games in his career, all in 2022, and has started all 63 regular-season games.
The 13th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Wirfs quickly emerged as one of the NFL’s best young offensive tackles, blocking for the legendary Tom Brady in his rookie season. The Buccaneers would win the Super Bowl.
Wirfs would be an ideal fit in any offensive scheme, but having someone who can get out in space would make him the perfect left tackle for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense in Washington.