Since Baker Mayfield arrived in Tampa last year, he and left tackle Tristan Wirfs have been the best of buds. It’s usually a good idea to be friendly with the guy who is going to be blocking for you, but their relationship has gone much further than just working together at practice and in games. The bond they share goes much further.
Baker Mayfield and Tristan Wirfs have become great friends off the field. They are both fathers now of young babies born within weeks of each other. Their families hang out a great deal to the point that Wirfs was with Mayfield when he got the call that his new contract was done and he was going to re-sign with the Bucs.
Now the shoe is a little bit on the other foot as Wirfs looks to get a contract extension done as he goes into the fifth year of his rookie contract. Wirfs is electing to sit out of OTA practices, which are optional anyway, to make sure he avoids any risk as he waits to get a deal done. So it’s just Mayfield that is practicing without Wirfs.
Baker Mayfield Comments On Wirfs’ Sit-Out
The situations with their contracts aren’t identical between Mayfield and Wirfs, but they can share the same experience of not exactly knowing what is going to happen while also hoping for a resolution. After practice on Tuesday, Mayfield spoke to the media and voiced support for his starting left tackle.
“Our situations are different because he’s playing on a fifth-year option,” Mayfield said. “There’s a difference there where it was free agency with mine. But when it comes down to Tristan, everybody knows he’s a team guy. At this point does he deserve to be paid? Absolutely, the guy’s a stud.
“He took the transition from right to left with ease. He did it better than I think he thought he was going to. You’re just trusting that process. I know he’s probably more eager to get the deal done than anybody else, but it gives other guys a great opportunity to come in and get reps as well.”
It’s easy to tell that Mayfield and Wirfs are good friends when Mayfield jokingly busted the chops of Wirfs with his closing comment.
“Tristan’s still around,” Mayfield said. “We’re not holding out on the friendship even though he’s holding out on us.”
Todd Bowles Answers About Tristan Wirfs
With OTAs close to wrapping up, next week starts mandatory mini-camp where every Bucs player will have to be in attendance. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has dealt with players in various contract circumstances before, so he doesn’t believe Tristan Wirfs will be a distraction. Wirfs is one of the more easygoing players you’ll find.
“Those things have a way of sorting them things out,” Bowles said. “I don’t worry about that right now. I understand there’s a business part of it and we’ll go from there.”
Recent history of the Bucs’ front office getting deals done points to the likelihood that they find the right price for Wirfs to get him back to practice. The right price may mean making him the highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL, but that would also mean locking up one of the best players at a position that is hard to find a generational talent.
It shouldn’t be too long before Mayfield and Wirfs can hang out on the field again soon. And enjoy huge contracts along with it.
