In 1995, the Buccaneers drafted two future Hall-of-Fame players, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, who would change the trajectory of the franchise.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht appears to have repeated history when he drafted Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr. in the 2020 NFL Draft. Wirfs and Winfield are now considered among the best, not to mention highest-paid, players at their respective positions, serving as tributes to Licht’s legacy in Tampa Bay.
Contract value is not always an accurate indicator of a player’s ability or impact on the field, but in the cases of Wirfs and Winfield Jr., it would be hard to argue otherwise. Wirfs has been a Pro Bowler and been voted into the NFL’s Top 100 player list every year since 2021. He earned All-Pro nods in 2021 and 2022. Since 2021, only one other tackle under the age of 25 has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades in multiple years, and Wirfs just turned 25.
Wirfs’ five-year, $140.6 million contract is the biggest deal for any offensive lineman in NFL history. If Wirfs continues on his current trajectory, it will be worth every penny. His future appears paved in accolades and recognition leading all the way to Canton.
Winfield Jr.’s four-year, $84.1 million deal is similarly record-breaking, but after the season he had in 2023, it would be near impossible to argue it was not justified. A consensus first-team All-Pro, Winfield Jr. was the best safety in football last year. He was elite in every aspect of defensive play: pass coverage, run defense and pass rush. Winfield Jr. led the NFL in forced fumbles, two of which all but single-handedly won games that helped propel the Bucs into the playoffs.
It was apparent early that Licht had done something special with the Bucs’ first two picks of the 2020 draft. Wirfs and Winfield Jr. were both immediate starters and were named to the NFL’s All-Rookie team.
2020 was obviously a special year for Licht and the Bucs, winning the franchise’s second Super Bowl. Though much credit rightfully goes to Tom Brady and head coach Bruce Arians, that magical 2020 season does not happen without Licht.
After some early struggles during Lovie Smith’s tenure as head coach, Licht was able to turn the page and began building a championship roster, acquiring key players like Chris Godwin, Vita Vea and Carlton Davis III. He lured Arians out of retirement in 2019, setting the stage for one of the biggest free agent coups in recent NFL history: signing Tom Brady in 2020.
While the addition of Brady made the Bucs immediate contenders, it was Wirfs and Winfield Jr. that put them over the top. Wirfs fortified the right tackle position, allowing just one sack all season. The Bucs had a good offensive line heading into 2020. Wirfs made it one of the best.
Winfield Jr. made himself indispensable early but battled through typical rookie struggles. He ultimately prevailed, a victory arc illustrated by an forgettable performance against Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs in Week 12 and redemption in the Super Bowl capped by a worthwhile taunting jesture to the Cheetah in the closing moments of the game.
Three years later, Wirfs and Winfield Jr. are the cornerstones of Tampa Bay’s roster, much like Sapp and Brooks were in their day. The blockbuster contracts they signed this offseason are true reflections of their value to the franchise and their status as leaders on the team and among the league.
For Licht, they represent another turn of the page. Over are the early struggles with Lovie Smith and the heights of the Tom Brady era. Now, the team firmly belongs to Licht and his blueprints for the franchise, built on a foundation laid by Wirfs and Winfield Jr.
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