Enough In The Tank?

The Eagles began the week padding their pass rush, announcing on Monday an agreement to terms with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on a one-year deal.

Tryon-Shoyinka, who turns 27 in April, entered the league as a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. The Washington product started 45 games over four seasons in Tampa, producing 15 sacks, 35 quarterback hits and 21 tackles for loss. He logged more than 500 snaps in three of the four seasons and north of 800 in the other.

Last offseason, Tryon-Shoyinka inked a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, making eight appearances before being traded ahead of the NFL trade deadline to the Chicago Bears. He combined for 16 games and 142 snaps, collecting 22 tackles (one for loss) and two quarterback hits.

Tryon-Shoyinka (6-5, 259) brings length plus athletic traits and solid run defense, with another  appealing attribute being his ability to drop into coverage. That said, Tryon-Shoyinka is a bit of an enigma. For all of his athletic tools and pass rush upside, Tryon-Shoyinka hasn’t tallied more than five sacks in any of his five seasons. He was blanked in the sack column last season and saw a steep snap reduction in his stints with the Browns and Bears.

The addition of EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka arms the Eagles with more EDGE depth but they still need a impact edge rusher.

But when factoring in pedigree and skill set, Tryon-Shoyinka fits the prototypical mold for one-year dart throws. The signings of Tryon-Shoyinka and A.K. Ebiketie this go-round mirrors what the Eagles did last offseason with Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari, which summoned cautious optimism. And much like the aforementioned Uche and Ojulari, a thinness in numbers would appear to favor the latest pairing of free agent pass rushers.

For perspective, stationed atop the depth chart are homegrown youngsters Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith. Hunt, a fast-riser, experienced a breakthrough of sorts last season, notching 6.5 sacks, 24 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss — and three interceptions — in his second season. His snap total swelled from 241 as a rookie to 693 in 2025. The Houston Christian product provided energy and effort on every snap and made notable strides in run support.

But it’s also worth noting that Hunt’s production largely coincided with the midseason trade for Jaelan Phillips, who commanded the majority of the attention. Furnish the room with a headline rusher in similar fashion and it can be argued that Hunt approaches double-digit sack territory.

As for Smith, forecasting an uptick in production isn’t as clear-cut. The 2024 first-round pick tore his triceps in the Super Bowl and missed time last season with a triceps injury, limiting Smith to 12 games. The physical nature with which he plays, at 245 pounds, could yield more wear-and-tear, a daunting thought for someone currently listing atop the pass rush pecking order.

While it’s worth noting that much of Smith’s value can’t always be quantified by peering at a stat sheet, as his pressures and ability to set the edge with violence and authority are tangible, the pass rush production last season was minimal. For context, Smith accumulated three sacks, one tackle for loss and 11 quarterback hits across 471 snaps.

Smith plays the game with an all-out, aggressive mindset — which should be appreciated in the way of a throwback — but is probably best suited for a volume-based complementary role to maximize his effectiveness.

Beyond Hunt and Smith, Ebiketie and Tryon-Shoyinka will strive to seize a new opportunity, though recent history would indicate that playing time — or perhaps even a roster spot for one or both — is hardly assured. But for two players inked to one-year “prove it” contracts, it would have been tough to land in a more favorable situation.

The group also includes Jose Ramirez, a late-round draftee of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 who last season played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. Ramirez, who appeared in four games for the Bucs in 2024, signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles in January.

That’s not to say the Eagles are finished building out the position. The team is still in need of a headliner, which would allow the remaining players on the depth chart to slot into roles that are more suitable. The trade market could be a solution. And answers can most always be found in the NFL Draft, where the Eagles currently hold the No. 23 overall pick in the first round.

As for a first-round pass rusher who could realistically be in play at 23, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk would check off several boxes.

Time will tell how the position ultimately shapes over the ensuing weeks, but if recent history is any indication, this has been a timeframe where general manager Howie Roseman is at the top of his game.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.