Already with three All-Pro nods and historic dominance at both tackle spots, Tristan Wirfs is solidifying his legacy as an elite protector destined for a gold jacket and a bronze bust in the Hall of Fame.
Hopefully, Tristan Wirfs only has two stops in his NFL career: Tampa, FL and Canton, OH.
After six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Wirfs is looking like a safe bet to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Wirfs has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times already and has been named an All-Pro three times, including being the first player in history to be named First-Team All-Pro at both left and right tackle.
If that's not a Hall of Fame resume, I don't know what is. There may not be another 27-year-old in the NFL who looks like more of a lock for the HOF than Wirfs.
As long as Wirfs continues to play at his outrageously high level, he will undoubtedly be immortalized in Canton once he hangs his cleats up for good.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN also believes Wirfs in on a Hall of Fame trajectory. In his article highlighting players from each NFL team who at least have a shot at making the HOF, Barnwell confidently placed Wirfs in the "keep it up" category.
It's simple. As long as Wirfs keeps doing what he's been doing his entire career, he is an absolute lock to get his own bronze bust and gold jacket someday.
"Keep It Up"
According to Barnwell, all Wirfs has to do is keep it up, and he will end up in Canton. While other players around the league are listed in categories like having work to do, on the cusp, or missing out, Wirfs has already shown a level of dominance that is Hall-worthy.
Barnwell also believes that Wirfs would be the pick if teams could select one tackle for the next decade.
"Wirfs missed time with a knee injury last season and had more hiccups than usual in the weeks after returning, but he would still be the first pick if you were drafting any left tackle to dominate the league over the next decade. Let's hope that the hamstring injury he reportedly suffered at the start of training camp doesn't linger into the season."
Even though he struggled with the injury throughout last season and was noticeably a bit off from the high standard he had set for himself, Wirfs' overall grade of 92.7 from PFF still ranked second among 89 qualified tackles. Wirfs, unlike many of the other top tackles, is equally as dominant as a run-blocker as he is as a pass-blocker. He was PFF's fourth-highest-graded tackle in pass blocking and third in run blocking.
Final Thoughts
Wirfs has already proven himself to be the NFL's most dominant left tackle. Having such a tremendous player at one of the game's most important positions gives the Bucs' offense such an advantage on game days.
The only other tackle in Wirfs' league is Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions. Sewell, like Wirfs, began his career as a right tackle but is being moved to the left side for the upcoming season. The battle between Sewell and Wirfs to be called the game's best tackle should be one of the closest and most fun in the league for the next 10 years.
With Wirfs as the anchor, the Bucs should have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL this season.
Wirfs is clearly on his way to the Hall of Fame. Hopefully, Tampa can maximize its offensive potential with a player like Wirfs leading the way.
Still only 27, Wirfs has many dominant years still ahead of him.
Then he will likely receive the phone call only the best of the best receive, congratulating him on being voting into the Hall of Fame.
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