Tag: wirfs nfl draft

This list will have the Bucs even happier about their Tristan Wirfs selection

In his ‘Pipeline to the Pros’ series over at NFL.com, Chase Goodbread listed the top 10 schools for producing offensive linemen.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the 2020 NFL draft hoping to snag one of the top-rated offensive tackles to be a building block for them up front and help keep new quarterback Tom Brady upright.

After watching three tackles get taken in the first 11 picks, Tampa Bay moved up from No. 14 to 13 in order to draft Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, who some had ranked as the second-best tackle available.

Wirfs will be looked upon to have a major impact in his rookie season for a Bucs team looking to make a deep run into the postseason. And while it remains to be seen how things will pan out for Wirfs in his first year in the NFL, the Bucs should take comfort in the fact that their new offensive tackle comes from one of the best schools for producing NFL offensive linemen.

In his Pipeline to the Pros series over at NFL.com, Chase Goodbread has been examining which schools produce the best talent at each NFL position. His list of the best schools for offensive linemen had Wirfs’ alma mater ranked at No. 10, with guys like Bryan Bulaga and Brandon Scherff as some big-name alums.

Hopefully, Wirfs can do his Iowa Hawkeyes proud this season in the NFL.

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Charley Casserly’s latest mock draft has the Bucs filling the ‘bookend hole’ on the O-line

In his latest 2020 NFL mock draft, NFL.com’s Charley Casserly predicts the Buccaneers will select this OT to help protect Tom Brady.

Things might be at a standstill for much of the world right now as we all work to practice social distancing in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. But, one thing we can still rely on to offer us a little respite are mock drafts.

With April’s NFL draft moving ahead sans the festivities (at least for now), teams are going to have to put in a little extra work when creating their draft boards now that travel restrictions are preventing many from attending pro days or conducting in-person interviews with prospects.

Still, with such a deep draft, there’s enough to go around. The only question is, where will each player land?

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the picture is becoming a little clearer after the signing of quarterback Tom Brady and the re-signing of both Shaq Barrett (franchise tag) and Jason Pierre-Paul (two-year deal). With the defense looking formidable once again, the Bucs can now turn their attention to protecting Brady and shoring up the O-line.

In his latest mock draft, NFL.com’s Charley Casserly has the Bucs going with an offensive tackle with the 14th pick in the form of Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs. “Protecting Tom Brady has to be a high priority. Wirfs fills the bookend hole opposite LT Donovan Smith,” Casserly says.

It really isn’t rocket science here. The Bucs needed O-line help even before Brady boarded the ship. Now that the team has a six-time Super Bowl champion leading their offense, keeping him upright is their most important task, especially when you consider Brady will be 43 years old next season.

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Draft Wire’s newest mock draft has a prized offensive lineman coming to the Bucs

Find out who Draft Wire thinks will be the top pick by the Buccaneers in April’s NFL draft.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a great position heading into the offseason. With cap room to play with, the Bucs will hopefully be able to bring back a few of their prized free agents, while also restocking in the NFL draft in April.

After a 7-9 finish, the Bucs hold the 14th pick in the draft, much lower than last year when they held the fifth pick and used it to take linebacker Devin White. So, who would be a viable option at 14 for Tampa Bay? They’ve held the 14th pick just once before in the draft, and used it to shore up the offensive line.

And, according to Draft Wire’s latest mock draft, the Bucs will look to snag another prized lineman in the 2020 draft in Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs.

Here’s the reasoning:

“This is an ideal scenario for the Bucs, who need to upgrade at least one of their tackle spots this offseason. Regardless of who is playing quarterback in Tampa Bay next season, the protection needs to improve in a big way if that player is going to succeed. Wirfs is ready to start from Day 1, and would be a bargain at this spot.”

The Bucs used last year’s draft to rebuild their defense. It’ll be interesting to see if that trend continues come April.

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