Tristan Wirfs is one of the more popular projections for the Cleveland Browns and the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Iowa offensive tackle is an athletic marvel and a high-end talent, the reigning Big 10 Lineman of the Year.
Alas, Wirfs accomplished that feat while playing right tackle. That’s where the Browns have installed prized free agent, Jack Conklin. Wirfs doesn’t have the idea length to play at left tackle, which tends to square off against the other team’s top pass rusher.
His college coach doesn’t seem worried. Kirk Ferentz, who has coached over a dozen NFL linemen in his more than 20 years at Iowa, is a believer Wirfs can handle the left side.
“I would play him at left tackle if I was still in the NFL,” Ferentz told Ohio.com’s Steve Doerschuk. “Maybe that’s why I’m not, but that’s where I’d play him. Tackles are such a valuable commodity … at any level.”
Wirfs did play some left tackle for the Hawkeyes, but Alaric Jackson was the primary starter there. He’s been in the program a year longer and got first crack at the gig. Jackson will enter the 2020 college season as one of the higher-rated OT prospects in his redshirt senior season.
Conklin was a left tackle at Michigan State but has played on the right side throughout his NFL career. Wirfs doesn’t have Conklin’s length but offers better technique and athleticism as a prospect, which typically goes in hand with playing on the left side.