The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs for the beginning of the 2025 regular season. Veteran Charlie Heck is set to take over during the 26-year-old’s absence.
It’s impossible to expect to completely replace the production of a tackle who is widely considered one of the best in the NFL. Heck is up to the challenge, and has been getting rave reviews from within the Buccaneers organization.
Heck signed a one-year, $1,570,000 contract with Tampa Bay back on March 17, hoping to earn the swing tackle job. Justin Skule held that role in 2023 and 2024, but signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason.
Heck Has Impressed His Team Throughout the Offseason
Ever since showing up for OTAs, Heck has shown the Buccaneers he’s ready to fill in wherever he’s needed. After the first day of pads, head coach Todd Bowles saw enough to gain confidence in the veteran tackle.
“[Heck’s] competitive,” Bowles said. “He has very good feet… He had some very good one-on-one reps.”
In the first two games of the preseason, Heck started at left tackle, and had very different performances. The 28-year-old finished game one with an above-average 79.4 PFF pass blocking grade, allowing no pressures. Game two was more of a struggle for Heck, allowing one pressure in 15 pass blocking snaps.
This offseason, Heck has tried to focus on gaining the trust of his teammates, which seems to be paying off. Quarterback Baker Mayfield knows that losing Wirfs to injury is hard to deal with, but he remains optimistic about his replacement.
“We trust [Heck],” Mayfield said. “He’s here for a reason. We’re still trying to instill the faith in him. He’s more than capable of doing his job at the left tackle spot.”
Heck Has a Versatile Resume
GettyCharlie Heck is hoping to use all he learned across five seasons to help fill in for Tristan Wirfs.
At 6-foot-8, 311 pounds, Heck is heading into his sixth year in the NFL. The 28-year-old spent the beginning portion of the 2024 season with the Arizona Cardinals. He finished by starting the final two games of the season for the San Francisco 49ers, appearing in nine games total.
The veteran played 80 snaps at left tackle, 25 at right tackle and added 12 snaps lined up at inline tight end as an extra blocker in 2024. He allowed eight pressures in 67 pass blocking opportunities last season. The Buccaneers feel like they know what they can expect.
“[Heck’s] what we thought he was, which is very solid, and what we’re looking for at that position,” general manager Jason Licht said. “… I don’t think we’ll miss a beat; Obviously, he’s not Wirfs, but in terms of what we’re looking for, a swing tackle that can step in and play a couple of games.”
The first four years of Heck’s career were with the Houston Texans, where he was drafted in 2020. As a former fourth-round pick for the team, he appeared in 41 games, with 21 starts, all coming at right tackle.
2024 was the first time Heck saw any playing time on the blindside at the NFL level. He started all 12 games of his senior year at North Carolina, but had been strictly on the right side since.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Heck said. “[Wirfs] is the best tackle in the NFL, so we’re hoping for a quick recovery, and I know he’s attacking the rehab process. He’s positive, but right now, I’ve just got to be really ready to fill in and help however I can.”
Can the Buccaneers Hold up Without Tristan Wirfs?