Bucs Moving Tristan Wirfs To LT? Maybe

At a press conference on Thursday, Bucs general manager Jason Licht discussed the possibility of moving All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs to the left side to replace Donovan Smith, who was released due to poor performance in 2022 and to create nearly $10 million in cap room.

Wirfs started three games at left tackle at Iowa during his final season in college in 2019, but primarily played right tackle. That’s where he’s been a starter for the last three seasons in Tampa Bay, becoming a two-time Pro Bowler in addition to earning All-Pro honors.

“Ever since we drafted Tristan we’ve talked about that,” Licht said. “So I think right now it’s just talk. We have the offseason. We have a lot of time to see how this unfolds.”

The Bucs could draft a left tackle to start right away and replace Smith, which would keep Wirfs at his familiar right side. Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison or Georgia’s Broderick Jones could be options in the first round at No. 19 for Tampa Bay.

Where Will Luke Goedeke Play?

If the Bucs don’t find Smith’s replacement in free agency or the draft Wirfs may be moved to left tackle, which would create a vacancy at right tackle. Luke Goedeke, last year’s second-round pick, was a two-year starter at right tackle at Central Michigan. Shorter than ideal arms prompted his move inside to guard at the next level.

After struggling for the first seven weeks of the season at left guard Goedeke wound up starting the season finale in Atlanta at right tackle in place of Wirfs. It turned out to be the highest-graded performance of his rookie year in the regular season.

“It’s great that we think he can play both,” Licht said. “We’re not making any decisions right now today. I think things can change in the matter of a couple days or a couple of weeks. We still have the draft coming up. We’re happy with the fact that we think he can play both guard and tackle at a very high level.”

It’s also possible that Goedeke could move to right guard to replace Shaq Mason, who was traded this week to help the team clear some cap room. The Bucs could also draft another guard, or turn to the players on their existing roster.

The Bucs Like Their Depth At Guard

Bucs LG Nick Leverett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Nick Leverett became the starting left guard in Week 8, replacing Goedeke, and performed well. Robert Hainsey, who started every regular season game at center for the injured Ryan Jensen, is also an option to move to guard with Jensen’s return this year.

And the Bucs are also high on Brandon Walton, who saw some playing time at left tackle in several games due to injuries to Smith and former reserve tackle Josh Wells. Tampa Bay also re-signed guard Aaron Stinnie, who spent all of 2022 on injured reserve after hurting his knee in the preseason. Stinnie is close to returning to action as his recovery winds down.

‘“We have a lot of confidence in Nick, Brandon, Robert – I think we have a lot of depth and players that can actually start for us,” Licht said. “Now we’re going to continue to add there.

“We have the offseason, we have the draft and we have all the way up until our first game. We’re not playing in two weeks. So we have a lot of time to do it. But we have a lot of confidence in these guys. … We’re very excited about Aaron, too.”