Bucs Have 1 Pro Bowler, 6 Alternates

A year after having nine players named to the Pro Bowl either initially or as alternates, the Bucs have one Pro Bowler in right tackle Tristan Wirfs, in addition to six alternates. Quarterback Tom Brady and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. were named as first alternates with defensive tackle Vita Vea, kicker Ryan Succop, right guard Shaq Mason and inside linebacker Devin White listed as other alternates.

Last year, outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, quarterback Tom Brady, center Ryan Jensen and left guard Ali Marpet joined Wirfs as selected Pro Bowlers, while the Bucs won the NFC South with a 13-4 record, which was tied for the best mark in the NFC. White, Winfield, Vea and wide receiver Mike Evans joined the chosen five to make it a Pewter Pro Bowl.

This year it’s just Wirfs for now, and that makes sense given the Bucs’ underwhelming 6-8 record this season. In his first three seasons in the NFL, Wirfs has garnered two Pro Bowl selections, has been named an Associated Press first-team All-Pro (2021) and was named a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team (2020), in addition to starting on Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV Championship team in his rookie season.

Wirfs has totaled 771 offensive snaps this season and per Pro Football Focus (PFF) metrics, he has yielded just four total pressures, one quarterback hit and one sack. Among offensive linemen with 750-or-more offensive snaps, Wirfs has allowed the fewest pressures and the fewest quarterback hurries (two) in the NFL this season, with four fewer than any other qualified player in each of those categories. He is 1-of-5 qualified tackles to have given up one-or-fewer sacks this season and is 1-of-8 qualified tackles to have allowed one-or-fewer quarterback hits.

Wirfs is the highest graded right tackle in the NFL in 2022, according to PFF, garnering an 86.8 overall grade and a 90.0 pass-blocking grade. His pass protection grade ranks second among all offensive linemen and first among right tackles.

This season, Tampa Bay is allowing a sack on just 3.0 percent of pass plays – the best mark in the league. The Buccaneers are also tied for the league lead in fewest sacks surrendered (19). Over the past three seasons since Wirfs was drafted, the Buccaneers lead the league in sacks allowed per pass attempt (3.1%), while also recording the most games without giving up a sack during that span (14). Behind its offensive line, Tampa Bay ranks fourth in the NFL in passing offense, averaging 268.4 yards per game.

Wirfs Becomes Third Bucs O-Lineman To Make Multiple Pro Bowls

Wirfs becomes the third offensive lineman to receive multiple Pro Bowl selections while with Tampa Bay, joining Tony Mayberry (three) and Davin Joseph (two). He is the only one of the group to be selected multiple times in the player’s first three career seasons.

The NFL has done away with the traditional Pro Bowl game due to player safety concerns and the lack of effort and enthusiasm, which made the game unwatchable for some fans. Instead, the league has gone to a skills competition format for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, which are set to take place on Sunday, February 5, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The festivities culminate with a flag football game that will be broadcasted live on ABC and ESPN.