Bucs Gameday

Buccaneers third-year edge rusher named team's most underrated player

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an underrated piece to the puzzle on defense.

Jeremy Brener

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby celebrates after getting a stop in the second half against the New Orleans Saints.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby celebrates after getting a stop in the second half against the New Orleans Saints. / Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
In this story:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby is entering his third season with the team, where he hopes to have his best year to date.

Diaby, who turns 26 later this month, was a third-round pick by the Bucs in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Louisville. Diaby had 7.5 sacks in his rookie season, but only 4.5 in 2024. Despite his dip in sacks, Diaby still had a tremendous season with the team.

Pro Football Focus writer Jonathan Macri identified the most underrated player on every team in the league, and Diaby was the person for the Bucs.

READ MORE: Buccaneers legend to be placed in Bucs Ring of Honor

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby celebrates after he sacked Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby celebrates after he sacked Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Diaby could be on rise next season

"Diaby didn’t explode in the sack column in 2024, which kept his play under the radar, but his underlying pass-rush metrics suggest he had a breakout season in 2024," Macri wrote.

"Perhaps most impressive about Diaby’s past season is that he delivered an 18.1% pass-rush win rate, which was a top-10 mark for the position, as were his 70 total pressures. Sacks are often what makes headlines, but Diaby is well on pace to regress positively in that regard, which will likely keep him from remaining underrated."

The Buccaneers could benefit from Diaby getting more sacks to his name in the upcoming season, but as long as the pressure is there, Tampa's defense should be in great shape.

Diaby and the Bucs will participate in OTA's later this month that will prepare the team for training camp at the end of July.

READ MORE: Buccaneers reportedly set for Monday Night Football matchup in Week 2

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2025 offseason.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

More Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

• Will the Buccaneers play an international game in 2025?

• Last two Buccaneers OCs to face each other in Week 1 Panthers-Jaguars matchup

• Buccaneers reportedly opening season with rivalry game on the road

• Buccaneers star defender 'pissed off' ahead of 2025 season

Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several On SI sites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid and resides in Central Florida. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener.