Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs not given his due credit by rival executives, coaches, and scouts around the league

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have never been one to linger in the public spotlight.  Well, outside of Tom Brady's three years with the team, that is.

Still, the Bucs not having the publicity and name brand of the Cowboys, Packers, Steelers, etc. has very likely held some players back from getting the recognition they deserve.

Antoine Winfield, Jr. should have been a lead-pipe lock Pro Bowler last year, but that went to a far underqualified Budda Baker. Mike Evans and Lavonte David should be getting stronger talk as the future Hall of Fame members that they will eventually be, yet a significant number of individuals still seem to question if they even should be.

Surely Tristan Wirfs, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL over the last four years, would be at or right at the top of the list in ESPN's ranking of offensive tackles based on input from execs, coaches, and scouts , right?  Surely one of the top two spots - perhaps behind Trent Williams - yes?

Well, no, actually.  Wirfs came in fourth, behind Williams, Penei Sewell, and Laremy Tunsil.  ESPN had the following to say about Wirfs:

"Already an All-Pro at right tackle, the Bucs asked Wirfs to move to left tackle in 2023. He did so successfully, helping Tampa reach the playoffs in Baker Mayfield's first year at quarterback.

The feeling is Wirfs could be higher on the list next year, after another full season on the left side. And the voting was very close among Sewell, Tunsil and Wirfs. These three appeared on every ballot.

'He's so f---ing talented that, even though it was an adjustment early in the year and he had been dominant on the right side, he started to play at a high level later and was much better as the season progressed," an NFL personnel evaluator. "Super athlete, real light feet, broad, slides well.'

Wirfs, a 2025 free agent, could become the highest-paid left tackle this summer.

'The things he can do at his size are rare,' an AFC scout said."

It appears as though Wirfs was docked some points because he's just getting started on the left side rather than spending his whole career there.  Although, Sewell is a right tackle himself, so I'm not really sure why that matters, especially since Wirfs made the move seamlessly, which should be to his credit.

And it's funny to note that some apparently very unqualified or confused individual had Wirfs as low as seventh among tackles.  Same for Williams, who is still playing at a very high level even at the age of 35.  It's hard to understand what some folks are thinking when they make evaluations like that.

Still, the bigger picture is getting an extension worked out , as the uber-talented lineman is due an extension in extremely short order.  Once that's done, Wirfs can turn back to helping the Bucs claim their fourth straight NFC South title - and perhaps earning a bit more respect from a select few execs, coaches, and/or scouts next year.

Related: A first-team All-Pro has the highest of praises for Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield