TAMPA, Fla. – Tristan Wirfs is the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL, and you won’t find anyone at One Buc Place who isn’t happy for him. The beloved three-time Pro Bowler gets a five-year $140.63 million deal. It’s a lot to process for Wirfs, thinking back to his rookie year out of Iowa.
“It’s pretty surreal to think about it,” Wirfs said. I feel like a completely different person,” Wirfs said. You look back and it’s like where have the four years gone? I remember my first camp out here with Tom (Brady), like I’m in the huddle with Tom Brady right now. Now it’s Baker Mayfield.”
Mayfield and Wirfs have become best friends on and off the field.
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Wirfs chanced getting injured, practicing during individual and offensive line drills at training camp, while waiting for a contract extension. Wirfs has always been known as a team guy and wanted to make sure he was on the field once camp started with his teammates..
“I talked to Coach Bowles about it,” Wirfs said. I pretty much told him the same thing: I have to be out here. I’ve got to be out here. It’s just not in my DNA to…it was hard enough missing OTAs.”
Wirfs said he and Bowles agreed to have him stand by and watch during team practice until he got that contract extension.
“I just told Coach Bowles I wanted to be cautious,” Wirfs said. “There’s a lot at stake.”
Yes, there is, since the offensive line goes as Wirfs goes. It was evident without Wirfs in at left tackle with the first unit especially at the Tuesday night practice inside the Advent Health Center.
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“There’s a little bit more on us this year,” Wirfs said. “So I wanted to get all those reps in this new offense, learning as much as I can. It’s been awesome. I’m super excited. /we’ve got a long road ahead. it’s going to be fun.”
Wirf overtakes Lions right tackle Penei Sewell’s NFL-leading $28 million average annual salary.
Wirfs is a three-time Pro Bowler, Two-Time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl Champion. He moved from right to left tackle last season and still dominated.
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