Bucs' Tristan Wirfs ranked among best franchise pieces in the NFL

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the NFL's premier building blocks in left tackle Tristan Wirfs, and Bleacher Report believes he belongs among the league's elite franchise cornerstones.

In a recent ranking of the NFL's best long-term franchise pieces, Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon placed Wirfs ninth overall. The list focused on players teams could build around for years to come, and the Buccaneers' All-Pro left tackle was one of only a handful of offensive linemen to make the cut.

Gagnon pointed to Wirfs' remarkable résumé, noting that he has already earned three first- or second-team All-Pro selections in six seasons while committing only seven holding penalties during his entire NFL career. He also highlighted Pro Football Focus' 2025 grades, where Wirfs finished as the league's highest-graded left tackle with a 92.7 overall mark.

The numbers reinforce why Wirfs remains one of football's premier offensive linemen. According to PFF, he earned a 91.6 run-blocking grade and an 84.9 pass-blocking grade in 2025 while allowing just two sacks, four quarterback hits, and 17 total pressures across 474 pass-blocking snaps. His 97.2 pass-blocking efficiency ranked among the best at his position despite regularly facing the NFL's top edge rushers.

Gagnon also compared Wirfs to Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell, noting that the two have surrendered a combined five sacks since the start of the 2024 season. While Sewell has established himself as one of the league's premier right tackles, Gagnon ultimately gave the edge to Wirfs because he has already proven he can dominate on the left side after previously earning All-Pro honors at right tackle.

That versatility is what separates Wirfs from nearly every offensive lineman in the NFL. He remains the only player in league history to earn Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors at both right tackle and left tackle, giving the Buccaneers one of the game's most valuable players protecting Baker Mayfield's blind side.

As Tampa Bay enters another pivotal season, having a player of Wirfs' caliber gives the franchise one of the strongest foundations in football. Bleacher Report's ranking is simply the latest reminder that the Buccaneers have one of the NFL's true cornerstone players anchoring their offensive line.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs' Tristan Wirfs ranked among best franchise pieces in the NFL