Moving Wirfs to left tackle makes sense on paper. Tampa has Goedeke, a second-round pick in 2022, able to step into the right tackle role. They don’t have the same obvious transition at LT after releasing Donovan Smith. To get the best five blockers on the field means switching the two-time Pro Bowler Wirfs to the left side.
However, Licht is leaving himself some wiggle room in case things don’t go well. Wirfs suggested in previous years that moving from the right side to the left isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. If he struggles in camp on the left side or looks league-average, the Bucs could switch gears and move him back to where they know he’ll shine — at RT — and figure out the rest on the fly.
So, yes, Wirfs will probably be the Bucs’ LT in 2023. But there are 127 days until the season kicks off. Plenty can change over that time.