Buffalo Bills (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
A blockbuster trade proposal has the Buffalo Bills taking a chance on a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round pick to bolster their defense.

The Buccaneers declined the fifth-year option on the rookie contract of edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, meaning he can enter free agency in 2025. But what if an AFC heavyweight comes in with an offer that Tampa GM Jason Licht can’t refuse?

The 25-year-old Tryon-Shoyinka has not come as advertised since the Bucs drafted him 32st overall in 2021. Tryon-Shoyinka has only started 34 games, tallying 13 total sacks (his five in 2023 was a career-high), six pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine proposed a blockbuster trade idea that has Tampa Bay sending Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for 2022 first-round pick and cornerback Kaiir Elam and a 2025 sixth-round selection:

“Elam has been impacted by injuries. He played in just three games last season, but he wasn’t looking any better than he did in his rookie season when he gave up a passer rating of 96.3 when targeted…

The Bucs and Bills could help each other out and give both players a fresh start by striking a deal. The Bucs need corner depth after trading away Carlton Davis III. Meanwhile, the Bills could use more depth among their edge-rushers with Von Miller hitting an age cliff last season.

Perhaps both could revive their careers in new surroundings.”

The cap-strapped Bills lost several key players on defense this offseason, including cornerback Tre’Davious White, pass rusher Leonard Floyd (the team’s 2023 sack leader) and safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.

Because of the cap situation, GM Brandon Beane couldn’t make any significant trades or free agent signings to bolster the defense So, his best bet may be to trade for a player on a rookie deal if he wants to upgrade the D ahead of Week 1.

Sean McDermott Could Unlock Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

In Tryon-Shoyinka’s defense, the Buccaneers haven’t given him enough playing time to flourish as a starter. Tampa has always had a deep front seven under Todd Bowles, and the recent draft selections of Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey haven’t done any favors for Tryon-Shoyinka.

The Bills have constantly fielded a championship-caliber defense under McDermott, who has a knack for maximizing the potential of veteran players upon their arrivals (see Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, for example). So maybe JTS could hit his ceiling with one of the game’s elite defensive-minded coaches.