Now is the time for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to finally step up for Buccaneers

Back in May, Tampa Bay decided to decline Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's $13.2 million fifth-year option, which will make him an unrestricted free agent at the end of this upcoming season.

Tryon-Shoyinka, the No. 32 pick in the 2021 draft, has had a quiet and disappointing NFL career thus far. In three seasons he’s totaled just 114 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and six pass breakups in 51 games (in 34 starts).

Last season, Tryon-Shoyinka was noticeably better, notching 45 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks in 17 games (12 starts), all career-highs for the former Washington Husky. After a solid start to the season, Tryon-Shoyinka came off the bench in the team's final five games behind rookie sensation Yaya Diaby, and finished with 14 tackles and one sack the rest of the way.

While lack of production has been an underlying theme for Tryon-Shoyinka, the outside linebacker hasn't had too much of an opportunity to prove himself in Tampa Bay. As a rookie, Tryon-Shoyinka joined a Bucs defense coming off a dominant Super Bowl run, headlined by middle linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White and outside linebackers Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul.

This trend would follow suit for the next two seasons, as Tampa Bay managed to retain David, White and Barrett through 2024 while adding Diaby, KJ Britt, Anthony Nelson, SirVocea Dennis and Chris Braswell in the next two free agency periods and the 2022, 2023, and 2024 NFL drafts. Needless to say, there's been a surplus of pass rushers in Tampa Bay and is a key reason of why Tryon-Shoyinka still hasn't broke out as an NFL starter.

At the start of the offseason, there were several rumors of Tampa Bay potentially shopping Tryon-Shoyinka on the trade block for future draft capital or plug-and-play starters at positions of need, including the secondary or offensive line. The offseason has come and gone now, and Tryon-Shoyinka remains.

After Yaya Diaby injury, it’s time for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to finally step up

On Thursday Diaby, Tampa Bay's sack leader from 2023, was carted off the field at team practice. Bucs' insider Greg Auman later confirmed that Diaby suffered an ankle injury, and will miss the entire preseason, but MRIs showed he avoided a serious season-threatening injury.

With Diaby likely needing several weeks to get back up to speed and be 100% healthy again, Tryon-Shoyinka has an excellent opportunity to move up in the depth chart and earn a shot at proving himself in Tampa Bay's front seven.

Between the loss of Diaby and the continuous holdout by free-agent signing Randy Gregory, Tryon-Shoyinka is the Bucs' primary strongside linebacker (SLB). To clarify, a SLB is usually the team's biggest and strongest linebacker that can cover tight ends and hold up against blockers at the point of attack on running plays.

Most times, SLB are rushing the quarterback on pass plays, giving Tryon-Shoyinka an increased role as a pass. rusher and run stopper in Tampa Bay's defense. With three preseason games to be familiarized in his new role, Tryon-Shoyinka is the player to watch in preseason with a chance to earn a starting spot in the regular season.

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