Bucs Trade Up, Select OT Tristan Wirfs in 1st Round of 2020 NFL Draft

Tampa Bay moves up one spot to make sure they get a top blocker to protect Tom Brady.

Tampa Bay has its new starting right tackle. The Buccaneers traded up one spot to take Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs with their first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Bucs swapped first-round picks with the San Francisco 49ers, giving up the 14th and 117th picks for the Niners' 13th and 245th picks (via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport):

The trade was No.13 and No. 245 for No. 14 and No. 117. So, a fourth rounder to the Niners. https://t.co/FElzFJf3Zo

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2020

The Bucs began this year's draft with a glaring need at tackle, most immediately at right tackle and potentially at left, long-term. It appears Wirfs will be the Bucs' starting right tackle for now (via the Athletic's Greg Auman):

"We'll take it one day at a time," Licht says when asked if they see Wirfs as a right tackle long-term or whether he could move to left side down the road. "One of the reasons we had him as high as we did" was versatility. For now, he's their right tackle.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 24, 2020

The Bucs added arguably the most athletic offensive tackle in this year's draft class. He ran a 4.85-second 40-yard dash, best of any offensive lineman at this year's NFL Combine. He also tested first among all offensive lineman in the vertical jump and broad jump.

Improving pass protection for newly added quarterback Tom Brady was an obvious priority for the Bucs heading into the draft. The Bucs now have four top-100 picks invested in their offensive line, a significant investment to help their quarterback push them into championship contention.