TAMPA, Fla. — After the 2023 season ended, the Bucs had a handful of starters heading into free agency. That’s when general manager Jason Licht called his shot.
"I mean, if we can re-sign Mike [Evans] and Baker [Mayfield] and Lavonte [David], Chase [McLaughlin], Antoine [Winfield Jr.] and Tristan [Wirfs], I mean, we should be throwing another boat parade," he said at the NFL Combine in February.
He spent the following months signing each of those players to new deals.
He checked the final name off the list on Thursday, agreeing to a five-year, $140.63 million contract extension with left tackle Tristan Wirfs. The deal makes Wirfs the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
“I think it’s pretty cool. I don’t know that it was necessarily a goal coming in the NFL, but it’s just a lot of hard work, trying my best to come out there and be the best teammate I can be – the best player I can be," Wirfs said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
RELATED: Tampa Bay's Wirfs agrees to $140.63 million extension, becoming highest-paid OL in NFL history
It’s a big payoff after a season of changes. Wirfs moved from right tackle to left tackle, was selected as a team captain for the first time and became a father when he and his girlfriend welcomed a son four months ago.
“It’s been an insane four years and here we are. It’s been a lot of fun…a lot of memories, and a lot more left to come. It’s pretty awesome," he said.
With the core of this team locked in, for at least, the next few years – the team feels like the Super Bowl window is open again. It signals a quicker turnaround than pundits expected after the departure of Tom Brady.
“We have the foundation of guys like Tristan that you build a team around," Licht said. "The vibes that are going through our office right now, from players to coaches…It’s at an all-time high right now.”
Licht is calling this the greatest offseason he can imagine and the Bucs foresee great things in the future.
“I’m a winner at heart, I hate losing, so knowing that we get a lot of guys back and we can continue to build this for years to come is a special thing," said Baker Mayfield after signing his new, three-year contract in March.
“Obviously, having Mike and ‘Bake’ back, bringing back Winfield Jr. and myself, it just shows that we can do great things – offensively and defensively," said Lavonte David who is entering his 13th season in Tampa Bay.
If these good vibes turn to wins, Jason Licht could be celebrating on the Hillsborough River, just like he called it back in February.
“If anybody has a boat, let me know..." he said.
The Bucs have their final practice open to the general public on Friday. They play their first preseason game on August 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals.