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17 I n January, Tristan Wirfs traded the 2000 Chevrolet Impala he has driven since his sophomore year of high school for a new truck. What more could a first-round NFL dra pick wish for? "I might order a new pair of shoes," Wirfs told reporters April 24 during a 20-minute Zoom teleconference. "I have been needing a new pair of shoes for a while." at shouldn't be a financial burden for Wirfs, the University of Iowa junior offensive tackle selected 13th overall by Tampa Bay during the opening round of the NFL Dra on April 23. e Buccaneers traded up a spot to take Wirfs, a 6-foot-5, 322-pounder from Mount Vernon, Iowa. Tampa Bay has had a busy offseason, signing Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady in March and tight end Rob Gronkowski a week before the dra. "I couldn't think of a better situation," Wirfs said. "Getting to block for Tom Brady and getting to play next to Rob Gronkowski; I'm ecstatic with how everything went. I can't wait to get down to Tampa and start working." Wirfs said he has spent his life in a "30-mile bubble" between Mount Vernon and Iowa City, so he looks forward to a move to Florida. Here are highlights of Wirfs' interview: On protecting Brady, who won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots "He has to put his trust in me to protect him. Doing something like that during my rookie season is going to be a great experience. I'm excited to learn from him; he has been a student of the game and has been in the league for 20 years." Reuniting with Hawkeye defensive lineman Anthony Nelson with Buccaneers "He taught me so much about pass rushers my freshman and sophomore seasons. We did player reports on each other; he gave me a scouting report on what I could do better, and I tried to give one on him. "I love Anthony, it will be fun being his teammate again." Watching as other tackles were selected in the 1st round "It was different seeing those three tackles go before me. I'm a competitive person and it was a stinger for a little bit. Being able to go to the Bucs and being in the situation I'm in now, I would 100 percent have it this way. It stung a little bit at first, then it went away quick." What's in a number? Wirfs said guard Ali Marpet from Hobart reached out to him aer the dra. Marpet wears No. 74 with the Buccaneers and informed Wirfs it is time to look for a new number. "I was like, that's fine," said Wirfs, who wore No. 74 for the Hawkeyes and will wear No. 78 with Tampa Bay. oughts on A.J. Epenesa slipping out of the 1st round Wirfs spoke to defensive end A.J. Epenesa on April 23, prior to the dra. "He said, 'You're my uso (brother in Samoan) for life,'" Wirfs said. "People need to put on the tape and see what he does on the field. A lot of teams missed out and someone will get an absolute steal of the dra. He will get there with a chip on his shoulder and he will be a force." Epenesa was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round April 24. A call from the head Hawkeye, Kirk Ferentz "He called (April 23), wished me luck and said he was proud of me. He has been so supportive through this whole process. He wished me luck before the (NFL Scouting) Combine, congratulated me aer the Combine. I love coach Ferentz, I always will. He has been the best coach I have ever had and I know there are 100 other guys who can say the same thing." • There have been 10 first-round NFL Dra picks from the University of Iowa during the Kirk Ferentz era. Three have come in the last two dra s (Wirfs, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant). • Iowa has 17 consecu ve dra choices remaining ac ve in the NFL, second only to Michigan's 19. • Iowa has had at least one player dra ed in every NFL Dra since 1978.