The Chicago Bears were in a tough spot. Injuries had already been hounding them for weeks since the season began. Unfortunately, things took a brutal turn when they lost Shemar Turner to a torn ACL and then Dayo Odeyingbo to a torn Achilles. Dominique Robinson also suffered a high ankle sprain. Just like that, a huge section of their defensive line was out of action. GM Ryan Poles knew he had to do something, but a major splash wasn't in the cards. It had to be a calculated swing on somebody cheap. That is how Joe Tryon-Shoyinka came into the picture.
He was a 1st round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. His first three seasons were decent, amassing 13 sacks. However, he never quite developed into the cornerstone they hoped for. That is why he left in free agency this year, signing with the Cleveland Browns. That decision proved unwise as the team barely used him through the first half of the season. So when the Bears came calling for a trade, you can imagine how thrilled he was. Not only would he join a team that is having a more successful season, but he will also have the opportunity to play. The energy at his introductory presser was palpable.
“I feel like I’m part of the team already…(Bears players are) all super welcoming. They’re excited to have me. Just a bunch of laughs. Just ready to get ready for a win...
...“It’s an amazing opportunity, go out and play,” Tryon-Shoyinka said. “Amazing defense with some of these dudes on his defense. We all trying to get to that next game. We got a lot in front of us, but it’s one game at a time right now. I’m trying to just find my identity with this team and fit in where I can.”
Cleveland's decision to sideline Joe Tryon-Shoyinka remains puzzling.
Obviously, he wasn't taking any snaps from Myles Garrett. Yet others, like Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire, and Cameron Thomas, got the majority of their work on the opposite side. It hasn't gone well. Garrett has 34 pressures this season. Those three have combined for 22. In 14 snaps, Shoyinka had three pressures, which was the exact amount Thomas had in 48. The only explanation is that the Browns never trusted him as a run defender, which was his primary weakness in Tampa Bay.
This doesn't matter much for the Bears. They didn't bring Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in to shore up their run defense. They added him to hunt the quarterback. He has good size, athleticism, a strong motor, and a quick first step. Chicago doesn't need him to be a star. All they need are two or three pressures on the quarterback per game. If he can provide that, the trade will have been worth it.
