The Chicago Bears have been busy this offseason trying to build on last year’s division title. But with 53 men on the roster this fall, there isn't enough room for everyone to stay on board.
This reality has made free agency a challenge as several players, including cornerback Nahshon Wright and safety Kevin Byard, have left town. But even players that remain on the market may not have a place on the roster, including Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
A trade deadline pick-up by the Bears at last year’s deadline, Tryon-Shoyinka was a disappointment, making 13 total tackles with a tackle for loss in eight games. But even if the Bears had some reason to bring him back, there may be no chance of that based on the moves they’ve made this offseason.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka Is Good as Gone After Bears’ Offseason Moves
Chicago has made 10 signings this offseason, but there has been plenty of work along the defensive line. Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch have all signed with the Bears in free agency, and the group could get even stronger with the return of Dayo Odeyingbo (torn Achilles) and Shemar Turner (torn ACL) from injury.
With Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett in starting roles and key reserve Austin Booker returning next season, the Bears would ultimately be bringing back Tryon-Shoyinka to serve the same role he did a year ago. There’s also a chance that several players could switch positions, including Turner, who played edge rusher for two weeks before getting hurt last fall.
But even if the projected $2.4 million market value by Spotrac makes him cheap competition, Tryon-Shoyinka did nothing to improve his case.
According to Pro Football Focus, Tryon-Shoyinka had a solid overall grade of 69.7 but had just five quarterback pressures in seven games with the Bears. Three of those pressures came in a Week 15 win against the Cleveland Browns, and Tryon-Shoyinka also suffered a concussion in a Week 17 game against the San Francisco 49ers that forced him to miss the team’s final two games, including a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.
While he played 34 special teams snaps, he only managed a 63.9 grade and one tackle and didn’t validate the cost of a 2026 sixth-round selection that it took to acquire him from the Cleveland Browns.
With new players brought in and more potentially coming in next month’s draft, Tryon-Shoyinka will likely have to look elsewhere for a job in 2026. Meanwhile, the Bears will hope they’ve found adequate depth to fix their issues and not need to make another trade like the one that brought the former first-round pick to Chicago.