When you read what Niners Nation said about Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, you'll be convinced the 49ers have to sign him this offseason.
A seemingly yearly tradition for the San Francisco 49ers is grabbing an unheralded or once-hyped-but-turned-bust defensive lineman during the offseason and then turning him into a quality player.
Go back in previous years and look at what the Niners did for the careers of linemen like Arden Key, Charles Omenihu, Samson Ebukam and others.
Thank you, defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
Soon-to-be free-agent defensive lineman Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is possibly the next name to watch in the lengthy line of Kocurek reclamation and/or development projects, and the 2021 first-round NFL Draft pick might have turned into something of a forgotten name, at least among San Francisco fans, after netting just 15 sacks over his first four years in the league.
Thankfully, Niners Nation's Kyle Posey put together a worthwhile argument why Tryon-Shoyinka should squarely be on the 49ers' offseason radar.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is a perfect low-budget free-agent target for 49ers
The 6-foot-5, 259-pound defender doesn't get discussed in many circles, probably due to the fact he hasn't generated eyebrow-raising numbers over his pro career, which is understandable.
As Posey mentioned, Tryon-Shoyinka wasn't exactly put into positions where these opportunities presented themselves, rather he was asked to play a variety of roles on the Bucs defense.
However, the defender was more than effective in doing what he was asked to do, as Posey explained:
"In 2023, Tryon-Shoyinka tied for Vita Vea for a team lead in run stops, but his pressure numbers dipped despite having a career-high in sacks. This past year was a contract year, and Tryon-Shoyinka saw his pressure rate dip to a career-low.
Instead of calling Tryon-Shoyinka a bust, let’s contextualize this information. A career-low pressure rate is likely due to being targeted 16 times in coverage. That’s right, the 265-pounder lined up in the slot 14 times last season. He had 11 snaps at linebacker and another 31 at defensive tackle. It’s not hyperbole to say he lines up everywhere."
Posey didn't shy away from Tryon-Shoyinka's relentless motor, athleticism and run-stopping abilities either, traits which the Niners' dilapidated defensive line desperately needs to showcase in its impending rebuild.
More from Posey:
"The best versions of the 49ers defenses through the years were dominant run defenses. That always gets lost in conversation because it’s not fun to talk about or it’s difficult to quantify statistically. That 2022 unit led the NFL in run defense. Ebukam helped spearhead them. Tryon-Shoyinka can be the 49ers diamond in the free agent rough this offseason and a player who helps the Niners get their identity back."
One of the bonuses of finding these proverbial free-agent "diamonds in the rough" is they're usually inexpensive. As noted in the linked article, Over the Cap valued Tyron-Shoyinka's 2024 contract value at $2.437 million.
That's not just affordable, it's awfully cheap, especially if the defender winds up being a base-down player who could save edge defenders like Leonard Floyd and/or Yetur Gross-Matos for third-down passing situations.
Therein lies the fit. San Francisco has to be conscious about spending it's $48-plus million in cap space this offseason, meaning finding budget-type players with high upside should be on the docket.
With a nod to Posey's work, let's be convinced Tryon-Shoyinka is a prime candidate to fit the bill when free agency rolls around this March.
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