Bucs Land One On PFF50 For 2023

There are a lot of Bucs doubters heading into the 2023 season, based largely on the fact that the team saw Tom Brady retire this offseason and is bound to replace him with either veteran journeyman Baker Mayfield or 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask.

But the fact is, Tampa Bay still has a lot of talent scattered throughout its roster. The offensive line has two Pro Bowlers (Tristan Wirfs and Ryan Jensen), as does the receiving corps (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin). There are Pro Bowlers on defense as well, with four in the front seven (nose tackle Vita Vea, outside linebacker Shaq Barrett and inside linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White) and another in the secondary (safety Antoine Winfield Jr.).

Young, up-and-coming talent fills other spots of the roster as well, with Rachaad White taking over as RB1 and Cade Otton entering his second NFL season as TE1. Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean make up one of the better cornerback duos in the league, while Winfield is joined on the back end of the defense by Ryan Neal, who finished 2022 as Pro Football Focus’ top-graded safety.

So, no, the Bucs aren’t in tank mode and the cupboard isn’t bare.

There’s some retooling going on and with Brady gone (and tight end Rob Gronkoswki, Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul and yes, Antonio Brown, are long gone), the team doesn’t have the same high-end, elite-level guys who are widely regarded throughout the football world.

But there’s plenty for head coach Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Dave Canales to work with, and that includes a player who found himself as Tampa Bay’s lone representative on the 2023 edition of PFF’s Top 50 players list.

Tristan Wirfs Represents Bucs On The ‘PFF50’ Heading Into 2023

Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When Pro Football Focus released its list of 50 best players heading into the 2022 season, the Bucs had three players named. Tom Brady came in at No. 8, while Vita Vea was No. 36 and Tristan Wirfs was No. 38. This year, Wirfs is the team’s lone representative, but he’s up 12 spots to No. 26.

Here’s what PFF’s Sam Monson wrote about Wirfs, who is transitioning from right tackle to left tackle for the Bucs this season:

“One of the best tackles in football from the moment he stepped foot on the field at this level, Wirfs will now get the opportunity to prove he can also do it on the left side as he swaps to left tackle for the 2023 season. He gave up an absurd five total pressures in 13 games last season and has allowed the lowest pressure rate since entering the NFL, aided by Tom Brady’s league-quickest average time to throw.”

Wirfs is a two-time Pro Bowler and a 2021 All-Pro, and in just three seasons, he’s established himself as one of the top offensive tackles in the league. He was a significant reason for the Bucs’ run to the Super Bowl in 2020, as he stepped in as a rookie and shored up the right tackle spot when it was sorely needed. He followed that up with another stellar year in 2021 before continuing to play at a high level in 2022. His size, technique and overall athleticism are elite, and that’s why there’s no concern about him making the switch from the right side of the line to the left, where he’ll replace Donovan Smith.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

The only other Buc who might’ve warranted inclusion on this Top 50 list is Mike Evans, though if he couldn’t crack the 2022 list after totaling over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns the year before, he was unlikely to do so after a 1,124-yard, six-touchdown season last year.

Vita Vea missed out on the list after being included on it last year, while Antoine Winfield Jr. couldn’t jump up into the PFF50 after just missing out last year.

Not only is Wirfs the Bucs’ lone representative on the PFF50, but he is also the only NFC South player to crack the rankings. The Saints, Falcons and Panthers don’t have any players present on the list, which speaks to the division’s strength as a whole.

It should be a wide-open race for the NFC South title, and the Bucs should feel confident in their chances to three-peat in 2023.

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