New Chicago Bears defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka met with the local media for the first time following his trade from the Cleveland Browns. Amid his theme of “consistency,” Tryon-Shoyinka also discussed a valuable lesson that he learned from the deal.
A former first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tryon-Shoyinka is on his third team in the last nine months.
He hopes to finally find that level that helped him become the No. 32 overall selection in 2021.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka Learned Valuable Lesson With Bears Trade
Bears DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka Meets the Media
In many ways, Tryon-Shoyinka’s journey to the Bears began in May 2024, when the Buccaneers declined to pick up his fifth-year option. He signed a one-year, $4.7 million contract with the Browns in free agency, but logged more special teams snaps (58 snaps, 27% share) then defensive reps (31 snaps, 6% share).
He joins a Bears team in need of reinforcements up front after losing Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner to season-ending injuries.
That, again, fits into Tryon-Shoyinka’s theme of seeking “consistency” and the lesson he learned.
“You can’t get too comfortable where you’re at,” Tryon-Shoyinka told Clocker Sports during his media availability after practice on Wednesday. “You got to just be able to be where your feet are at. Be present, wherever you are.”
Bear general manager Ryan Poles explored other options before the trade deadline, but he did not want to pare down their future capital too substantially.
That leaves Tryon-Shoyinka in a key position despite, perhaps, modest expectations.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka Draws Noteworthy Comparison
Bears head coach Ben Johnson also met with the media on Wednesday, and he addressed what they like about Tryon-Shoyinka. Poles offered an intriguing comparison, grouping Tryon-Shoyinka with Dominique Robinson.
Johnson is simply hoping for a spark from the fifth-year pro.
“We’re kind of low in numbers there in that D-line room,” Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. “Adding Joe into the equation should, hopefully, give us a little boost here for the second half.”
Robinson, a fifth-round pick in 2022, has been a darling of the coaching staff after failing to break through under the previous regime.
Once players are in the NFL, their draft stock matters less and less as years pass.
Still, Tryon-Shoyinka drew comparisons to Montez Sweat and Robert Quinn coming out of college, where he was teammates with Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon. The current comp can be viewed as a step back from him, or, optimistically, praise considering how high the Bears were on Robinson coming into the season.
Tryon-Shoyinka’s first opportunity to make an impression with the Bears could come as soon as this Sunday at home against the New York Giants in Week 10.