As we all get closer the NFL Draft, the possibility of trades become more of topic as teams look to position themselves for the better for the upcoming season and also the future. The Bucs have already been active, trading cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Lions for a third-round pick.
But what if more deals are to come?
In a hypothetical trade scenario brought up on Bleacher Report – and remember this is just a hypothetical – a scenario is pitched where the Bucs trade outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shyoinka to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft. Here is a brief excerpt of the article with the thought process behind it.
“As it happens, the Cowboys have a big need on the edge and Tryon comes with an affordable $2.2 million salary. With Dorance Amstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. leaving, the Cowboys with 716 snaps to replace.
“For the Bucs, this would be a chance to move on and get something in return for a player that they benched last season. For the Cowboys, it’s an opportunity to take a relatively low-cost risk on a high-potential player.”
Pros Of Potential Bucs Trade Involving Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
With every trade, whether realistic or not, it’s best to look at the pros and cons regarding how it pertains to the Bucs. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has had a less-than-desired tenure with the Bucs through three seasons after being their first round pick in 2021. JTS has recorded 114 tackles, 13 sacks and one forced fumble in 51 games and 34 starts.
Over the last two months of the season, his playing time was reduced as rookie Yaya Diaby, the team’s third-round pick, took over as starting outside linebacker on the other side of Shaq Barrett. Diaby made the most of it, recording 7.5 sacks with 3.5 of those coming once he became the full-time starter.
This move makes some sense because Tampa Bay is likely to address edge rusher in the upcoming draft. A first-round pick would have a good shot on starting right awayon Todd Bowles’ defense, especially with JTS gone to clear the way. on Todd Bowles’ defense, especially with JTS gone to clear the way
Diaby is set to be one starting outside linebacker for the Bucs this season, and with Anthony Nelson still under contract for another season, there’s not as much reliance on Tryon-Shoyinka as there once was. Trading the outside linebacker would open up $2.2 million on the salary cap, which could help Tampa Bay either sign a free agent, potentially a veteran outside linebacker with more pass rushing capabilities. Or at the very least, it leaves a cushion for rookie signings and various signings throughout the season.
This also gives an opportunity for second-year players Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez to rise up the depth chart, and perhaps re-sign veteran Cam Gill. Watts showed flashes in limited playing time last year, recording a sack against Tennessee. The team is high on Ramirez after a year of development on the practice squad. An addition of another edge rusher through the draft keeps the depth intact without the Bucs having to scramble to fill out the room.
And by acquiring a fifth-round pick from the Cowboys, the Bucs recoup a pick that they relinquished to trade up and draft wide receiver Trey Palmer in the sixth round last year. It puts Tampa Bay back in the fifth round while also adding another selection that the team lost by trading a sixth-rounder to the Lions as part of the Carlton Davis III deal. This gives Tampa Bay a pick in every round, including two in the third.
Cons Of A Potential Bucs Trade
Ending Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s run with the Bucs in this trade does leave some question marks for the Bucs at outside linebacker. Despite the optimism over Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez, these are two unproven players that could be thrust into huge roles. Watts was an undrafted free agent and Ramirez went in the sixth round, so neither of these prospects were exactly meant to be cornerstone outside linebackers.
While using an early-round draft pick on an edge rusher brings a fresh outlook to the group, Tryon-Shoyinka is an example that not every pick works out. Expecting a rookie to be a major contributor out of the gate should not be a situation that Tampa Bay banks on in 2024. If something were to happen to YaYa Diaby or Anthony Nelson, the backups at outside linebacker are just getting their feet wet in the NFL. If re-signed, Cam Gill would have the most experience having played for three season, but only has 2.5 career sacks in a very limited amount of snaps.
There’s also a lot of intrigue with Tryon-Shoyinka as Todd Bowles expects to use him in a bit of a different role than a traditional pass rusher. Tampa Bay did not pick up
his fifth-year option, so this could be the final year with him on board. Why not see if the Bucs can use this final year to tap into JTS’ athleticism and utilize his skills in other ways where it would only be a one-season experiment?
“We kind of know where we want to use Joe at now – he’s more of a ‘joker-type’ player for us to move around and do different things for us,” Bowles said at the NFL Annual Meeting. “Joe is a very unique player. He’s not going to be a go-around-the-corner, Shaq-type guy. Joe can move all across the line of scrimmage and help us in a lot of things. He’s our linebacker, he’s our defensive end, he’s our three-tech, he’s our part-time nickel, he’s our part-time inside ‘backer. He can come from a lot of areas, so he has a lot of jobs. He’s one of those chess pieces that I talk about.”
The odds are that Joe Tryon-Shoyinka won’t be traded at all. With that said, it doesn’t hurt to explore options if the Bucs think it will make the team better.
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