Tryon-Shoyinka Officially Enters Contract Year After BUCS Decline 5th-Year Option
BAD Company
One notable development for the Buccaneers' defense was the team's decision not to pick up the 5th-year option for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, their 1st-Round pick in 2021. This means Tryon-Shoyinka is entering a contract year in 2024.
Tryon-Shoyinka is one of six players from the 2021 1st-round Draft picks reported as not having their 5th-year option picked up. The #2 Overall Pick, Zach Wilson, was traded to Denver weeks before this year's Draft, with the team opting not to pick up his 5th-year option. It's the same story for both Justin Fields and Mac Jones. Fields, the 11th Overall Pick, who was once thought to be the Savior of Chicago, was traded to Pittsburgh, and it was announced that the team intended to decline his 5th-year option. Jones, the 15th pick in the Draft, was shipped from New England to Jacksonville suffering the same fate.
The Raiders' top pick of the 2021 Draft, OT Alex Leatherwood, is now a free agent. And Washington won't be picking up the option on LB Jamin Davis.
The BUCS were looking for a significant leap in production from the young linebacker. While he's shown flashes of potential with 13 sacks in three seasons, consistency is needed to solidify his role as a starting edge rusher. Tryon-Shoyinka has been adept at creating pressure, forcing quarterbacks into sacks for others, and chasing them out of the pocket. From 2021 through 2023, he's tied with recently released Shaquil Barrett for the most QB Hurries (29) on the team.
Slim Chance At Redemption
The upcoming season will be crucial for Tryon-Shoyinka. It's a bit of a long shot, but with a strong performance, he could earn himself a shot at another contract to stay in Tampa. A breakout season could still be within reach. Former #1 Overall Pick Jadeveon Clowney finally broke out in his 4th season with the Houston Texans. After a rookie campaign that was cut short by injury, he had two relatively mediocre seasons. But in 2017, the final year of his contract, Clowney exploded for 9.5 sacks.
It only took 6 sacks the previous season for the Texans to get excited and commit to Clowney's 5th-year option. He rewarded them with back-to-back 9-sack seasons.
Through 51 games, Troyon-Shoyinka has racked up 13 sacks. In the same span of games, Clowney had 22.5 in the same number of games. Yet, due to his being a primarily rotational player in his rookie season and in 2023, Tryon-Shoyinka played fewer snaps(1982) than Clowney(2592). That's not to say that the embattled BUC will likely break out in this final year of his contract or give false hope. But it can be done. And it could be just a matter of fortune. Head Coach Todd Bowles touched on that aspect during last month's NFL Owners Meeting.
"He got back there. The ball was just out some."
"You're always looking for that 15-sack guy, and sometimes that's just a shot of luck. Sometimes, you get back there, and the ball's out."
““Do we think he can rush the passer? Yes. Has he left some sacks out there? Yes. But he’s made some great plays for or set up some great plays for other people, and that goes unnoticed because you don’t see him at the finality of the play”.”
Bad History
Many impatient and downright foolish followers of the BUCS have labeled Joe Tryon-Shoyinka a "bust" since his second season. However, those prophecies of failure will ring true if he doesn't turn in an undeniably exceptional season in 2024. Anytime a 1st Round Pick doesn't make it past the 4-year mark, it's a bust of a draft selection.
One of the main incentives for drafting a player in the 1st Round is to take advantage of the 5th-year option. When that's no longer in the interest of the team, it's a bad spot for both parties involved.
This officially makes Tryon-Shoyinka the first Jason Licht who didn’t get his 5th-year option picked up. 2016’s 1st-Round Pick Vernon Hargreaves has the dubious distinction of getting his option picked up and then being traded before even finishing his 4th season.
