Former Buccaneers First Round Bust Traded to Bears
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had 4 long years to look at what they had in edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, their 2021 first round pick.
At the end of that stretch, the prevailing sentiment was something along the lines of:
That’s how Tryon-Shoyinka ended up with the Cleveland Browns this offseason on a 1-year, $4.755 free agent contract.
It’s also how Tryon-Shoyinka ended up with the Chicago Bears just hours ahead of the NFL trade deadline on November 4, sent away along with a 2026 seventh round pick in exchange for a 2026 sixth round pick.
“New Bears EDGE Joe Tryon–Shoyinka hasn’t played much for the Browns this year, but he has a 73.5 PFF grade and has 29.2% pass-rush win rate,” NFL draft analyst Jacob Infante wrote on his official X account. “It’s off a small sample size, but that win rate is the 4th-best in the NFL. Not a splash but depth for a cheap cost.”
The Buccaneers selected Tryon-Shoyinka with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
“Browns are sending DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and a seventh-round pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a sixth-round pick, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Chicago lost DE Dayo Odeyingbo to a season-ending Achilles injury on Sunday, and now trade for a potential replacement two days later.”
Buccaneers Didn’t Try to Bring Back Tryon-Shoyinka
It spoke to exactly how the Buccaneers viewed Tryon-Shoyinka at the end of his 4 seasons when they didn’t lift a finger to sign him despite being in quite desperate need of help at edge rusher.
“Sources: The #Browns are signing OLB Joe Tryon–Shoyinka to a 1-year, $4.75M deal. The former 1st-round pick recorded 15 sacks in four seasons with the #Bucs,” FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account on March 11.
The Buccaneers declined the fifth-year option on Tryon-Shoyinka in May 2024 and let him play out the final season of his 4-year, $11.1 million rookie contract.
“As expected, Bucs will not be exercising the fifth-year option for 2021 first-round pick OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman posted on X. “Would have been $13.2 million for 2025. He has totaled 13 sacks in three seasons.”
Tryon-Shoyinka was bad in his final year with the Buccaneers with a career low 2.0 sacks, and he’s been just as bad with the Browns.
“Joe Tryon–Shoyinka in eight games with Browns: zero sacks, zero tackles for loss, one QB hit, nine tackles,” Auman wrote on November 4.
One of the problems with Tryon-Shoyinka throughout his career has been his lack of versatility. If he wasn’t rushing the passer, he wasn’t much good to the defense. And most of the time, he wasn’t very good at that, even.
NFL Draft Hasn’t Been Kind to Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have tried desperately to fill out their defensive front in the NFL draft in recent years, and with varied results.
Tampa Bay used their first pick in three consecutive drafts to add edge rushers or interior defensive linemen with busts in Tryon-Shoyinka in 2021 and defensive end Logan Hall in 2022 followed by interior defensive lineman Calijah Kancey at No. 19 overall in 2023.
Out of that bunch, only Kancey looks like he’ll eventually pay off after he led the Buccaneers with 7.5 sacks in 2024. but he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 of the 2025 regular season.
Geno Smith Reacts Strongly to White House Using Taylor Swift Song as Background Music for TikTok Video, Sparking Online Fury
Geno Smith, the standout quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, has made headlines after reacting strongly to the White House using a Taylor Swift song as background music for a video posted on their official TikTok account. The choice of song has sparked a frenzied debate online, with many fans and critics weighing in on the controversial move, bringing up past tensions between the Swift and Trump camps.
In a tweet that quickly went viral, Smith called the decision “unbelievable,” saying, “Using a Taylor Swift song for a political video is a whole new level of disrespect. What are they thinking? Her music isn’t a prop for political agendas. This isn’t just about music – it’s about how this situation has been handled poorly.”
The video in question, which was posted to the White House’s TikTok account, featured the song “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift. While the clip aimed to highlight certain policies and initiatives, the choice of the song did not sit well with many, especially since Swift has been one of the more vocal critics of former President Donald Trump.
Smith’s tweet ignited a firestorm of online reactions, with Swift’s supporters expressing frustration that her music was being used in this context. Some fans pointed to the long-running and highly publicized feud between Taylor Swift and Trump, which dates back several years, as a reason why this particular song choice felt out of place. Swift has consistently opposed Trump’s politics and even publicly endorsed his political opponents in past elections.
“The irony here is off the charts,” said one Twitter user. “The White House knows exactly what they’re doing, and it’s disrespecting Taylor Swift’s voice by using her song in a campaign video. This is nothing less than a slap in the face to everything she’s stood for.”
The tensions between Swift and Trump are well-documented. Swift has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s policies, particularly his stance on social issues, and has even gone so far as to endorse his political adversaries. Trump, in turn, has criticized Swift on several occasions, calling her out on Twitter and mocking her for her political opinions.
The choice of Swift's song seems to have amplified these existing divides, as the TikTok video was quickly viewed as yet another political move aimed at manipulating Swift’s brand and public image for a certain agenda. Swift’s fans and political opponents of Trump were quick to point out that the singer’s music should not be used for political purposes without her consent.
In response to the backlash, the White House has not issued a formal statement regarding the controversy. However, the incident has brought even more attention to the already divisive political atmosphere, with both sides of the political spectrum using the situation as fuel for further discussions about celebrity influence in politics.
Geno Smith’s response has not been the only one, as countless others have chimed in, with many questioning the ethics of using an artist’s work without their permission, particularly when it concerns polarizing figures like Trump and Swift.
“This entire situation is a reminder that even something as simple as music can stir up emotions,” one political analyst noted. “In today’s climate, every move, every song, every tweet is scrutinized, and people are increasingly aware of the narratives behind these actions.”
As the debate rages on, the drama between the White House, Taylor Swift, and the ongoing political tensions is far from over. Whether or not the White House will change its approach to using popular music in future content remains to be seen, but for now, the conversation continues to spark intense reactions across social media platforms.
