The Cincinnati Bengals are awaiting the very important number five pick in the NFL draft. What if they throw a curveball and ask for a trade for Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs? There are hardly any talks about this but being creative to get the star offensive lineman needs to be considered.
One of the main prospects the Bengals have been looking at for the fifth pick has been Oregon Offensive Tackle, Penei Sewell. The generational tackle is a possibility for them to protect quarterback Joe Burrow for the next decade.
Ja’Marr Chase is a generational wide receiver from LSU that can provide a lethal weapon for Burrow for years to come. Burrow has made it a point that he would love to throw to one of his favorite targets in college at the next level.
Trading the fifth pick for Tristan Wirfs
If the Bengals decide to trade their pick for a player, that player should be Wirfs. What would the Bengals get out of this rookie offensive Tackle? Wirfs was the Buccaneers first-round draft pick in 2020 from Iowa. Wirfs had the best rookie season for an offensive lineman since 2009 according to Pro Football Focus.
Wirfs Super Bowl PFF grade was 91.7 which is the third-best score for an offensive player since 2006. Wirfs was also one of three rookies that had a 70 plus score on pass blocking and run blocking. Without the PFF scores, this is what Wirfs did through the 2020 season.
How about this rookie campaign from Bucs OL Tristan Wirfs:
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 9, 2021
• 22 years old
• started all 20 games
• did not miss a single offensive snap (1,280 plays)
• 1 penalty since Week 5
• 799 pass-blocking snaps
• 1 sack allowed
• Super Bowl champion pic.twitter.com/J4L0PdTfou
The fact that Wirfs is only 22 and was dominant is good enough to ask for in a trade. For a bonus, the Bengals will have him in the second year of his four-season rookie contract not needing to worry about green agency until 2024. Wirfs would solve the Bengals’ right tackle position.
Acquiring Wirfs could allow the Bengals to move recently signed free agent OT Riley Reiff to right guard. This offensive line would be solved for the most part.
Would the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to trade Tristan Wirfs to the Bengals?
Wirfs was a dynamic key to the offense that helped win the Buccaneers the Super Bowl. It is doubtful they would even entertain this idea. The only way to leverage a play like this is on draft day. The only reason the Buccaneers would entertain this notion is if a quarterback is in play at the fifth pick that they would want.
Wouldn’t it be wild if Alabama quarterback Mac Jones would be able to learn from one of the greatest quarterbacks? Of course, they can always find a quarterback in next season’s draft.
Conclusion
Keep in mind these are just thoughts that should be suggested. If the idea is to protect Burrow, the Bengals should get the best on a rookie contract.