The Bucs went into this offseason looking to address the outside pass rush. After the team’s outside linebackers combined for just 12 sacks last season, it was clear the room needed to add another talented pass rusher. Tampa Bay signed free agent Haason Reddick to help, but that might not fill that void completely.
That is where Yaya Diaby comes in.
Although he led the group with 4.5 sacks in 2024, Diaby, who is entering his third season in Tampa Bay, is far from satisfied.
Diaby appeared on Thursday’s Pewter Report Podcast and discussed how he is looking to take another step forward as a sack producer – and become a leader – on defense.
Yaya Diaby Made Major Growth In 2024 And Knows The Sacks Will Come
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
One might look on the surface and say that Yaya Diaby had a down second year. After not starting until Week 12 of his rookie year, he still finished with 7.5 sacks. While Diaby’s sack totals regressed in 2024 after finishing with just 4.5, he became a better all-around player.
For what it’s worth, he was the Bucs’ highest-graded defender by Pro Football Focus and had 65 quarterback pressures, which was among the top 10 edge rushers in the league. Moreover, he became a more polished player when it came to being a run stopper on the outside and setting the edge.
There is no doubt that Diaby is looking to emerge as a double-digit sacker and being the player the team deserves. Although he is not fully there yet, the up-and-coming pass rusher was proud for the way he grew.
“I would just say growth from year one to year two,” Diaby said about how he would assess last season. “Besides the sack numbers, I feel like I made major growth in every other category. I just want to thank myself and congratulate myself on that part, you know? I know for sure the sack part is going to come.”
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Like sluggers in baseball, who are evaluated for how many home runs they hit, edge rushers are viewed in a similar light when it comes to how many sacks they produce. It is not always a fair look into how good or bad an edge rusher is, and in Diaby’s case, the rest of his game and contributions were overlooked.
“Yeah, I agree to that,” Diaby said about that assessment. “I feel like it gets overlooked because when people search up your name, they go straight to sacks because you’re an edge rusher. All of the other statistics really don’t show unless you actually search for it. I feel like I improved a lot in everything, run defense and my pass rush ability improved drastically.
“Sometimes the game is a game of inches, you can get there but if you don’t take the quarterback down, you don’t get the sack. I’m proud of myself, that’s what I told myself towards the last couple of weeks. I was just saying how proud I am of myself. The sack number wasn’t where [I wanted it] at but I just let go, let loose, and it helped me out a lot. I started actually capitalizing on those sacks.”
Yaya Diaby Does Not Need To Be A Captain To Lead And Take Responsibility
Yaya Diaby has plans to improve as a player this offseason, as he will be training with defensive tackle (and close friend) Calijah Kancey in Miami and with pass-rushing guru BT Jordan in Texas. Diaby took a week-long getaway to Cabo immediately following the Bucs’ playoff loss to Commanders, but the only trips he will be taking now are business trips.
“That’s why with me, I don’t take too many trips because when it’s time, it’s time,” Diaby said. “I am locked in, that’s why I took that time away to go spend time with family. Now it’s just locked and loaded, that’s how I am once April hits. It’s on – and poppin.'”
Diaby will be looking to increase his sack total and grow into a premier pass rusher, but he also wants to step up in the locker room. Tampa Bay already has three defensive captains in defensive tackle Vita Vea, inside linebacker Lavonte David, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr., but that does not mean he cannot learn what it takes to lead from one of the best defensive players in team history.
“I talked to Lavonte when he made the decision to come back,” Diaby said. “I said, ‘I’m going to help you, I will help you this year to lead this team and getting that ring.’ If you’ve seen my posts on every free agent that they are signing, I [respond with] a ring [emoji]. Lavonte knows that this is a team that can do it, that’s why he keeps coming back. He knows what we got, and I know what we got. It’s just a matter of everybody staying healthy and if everyone’s healthy, we’re hard to beat.”
There are high expectations within the building that the Bucs can go on a deeper postseason run this upcoming season. The offense remains the team’s strength, but the only way this team will truly compete for a Super Bowl is with an improved defense. Outside additions through free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft will help, but the new players brought in better be ready to come in and get after it.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Even whoever they draft, they better be ready to come to work,” Diaby added. “We’re not settling for nothing but a Super Bowl, and I’m excited to have guys like Lavonte coming back, CG [Chris Godwin]. Seeing him in the building everyday, man, it’s just amazing because I’m just happy he’s working towards being fully healthy.”
This all connects back to Diaby’s desire of being more vocal and motivating his teammates to be better. Having role models like David and Godwin is huge, but the young pass rusher wants to become one himself.
He likely will not be named a captain based on the veterans who continue to lead the defense, but you do not need a patch on your jersey or a title to do the job of a leader.
“I don’t need a “C,” Diaby said about whether or not he needs one to help lead the defense. “I would love the “C,” but I don’t need the “C.” I told Lavonte, ‘I’m going to help you lead this team.’ I don’t need the “C” on my chest to be a vocal leader.
“When things are not going right, everybody looks down. You’re never supposed to look down until that clock says zero. You’ve got to always feel like you’re in the game. That’s another thing where I feel like I’ve got to take responsibility. I will get better this year just learning my teammates and learning ways to talk to them so they don’t feel like I’m attacking them.”
It is no secret that Yaya Diaby wants to attack this upcoming season and up his sack total.
Diaby wants to make the most of his chances to bring down opposing quarterbacks while bringing up his teammates at the same time.
Watch Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby On The Pewter Report Podcast
Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera spoke with Yaya Diaby for more than an hour. To hear Diaby’s full comments, be sure to watch Thursday afternoon’s Pewter Report Podcast. You can do so by clicking HERE or watching below.
