2023 NFL Draft: How Would YaYa Diaby Fit With the Jaguars?

With a big need at pass-rusher, could the Jaguars target YaYa Diaby on Day 2?

Author:
John Shipley
Publish date:
Apr 13, 2023 1:49 PM EDT

The 2023 NFL Draft season is upon us.

Among the 32 teams building their rosters to compete for the next Lombardi Trophy is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hold nine picks in this season’s draft -- including the No. 24 overall pick.

As we march closer and closer to April’s draft, we will look at individual draft prospects and how they would potentially fit with the Jaguars. Instead of looking at any negatives, we are going to look at what the players do well and if they could match what the Jaguars need at the specific role or position.

Next up: Lousiville pass-rusher YaYa Diaby.

Overview

A no-star recruit out of high school, Diaby played tight end and defensive end in high school while also lettering in track, basketball, and wrestling. After high school, Diaby earned a try out and eventually a scholarship to Georgia Military College, where he recorded 77 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and seven sacks in two seasons.

A three-star JUCO recruit in 2020, Diaby committed to Louisville and went on to start seven games, recording 18 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Diaby returned as a starter in 2021, starting 12 games and recording 39 tackles, three tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.

Diaby's breakout season came in 2022. Starting all 13 games, Diaby recorded 37 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and two pass-deflections, earning Third-Team All-ACC honors.

What YaYa Diaby Does Well

It isn't always the case that a player is as athletic on tape as they are at the combine, but it Diaby does not fall into this category. He plays exactly like the high-level athlete he tested as, displaying smooth balance and change of direction ability, an explosive first step that can eat up ground and force tackles to turn their hips early, and speed to pursue offensive players in space.

As a run-defender, Diaby's blend of length, power, and first-step quickness helps him wreak havoc on a consistent basis. He doesn't have the best diagnosing skills at this point in his development, but he is frequently able to reset the line of scrimmage and create penetration off the snap thanks to his ability to explode off the line and power his way through blocks. He has the speed to chase ball carriers down and make tackles from behind, while also displaying good closing speed and burst when finishing plays.

As a pass-rusher, Diaby's tool box of moves more or less relies upon his physical traits. He attempts to beat tackles around the edge with his burst, showing the bend needed to win around the arc and close on the quarterback. He packs plenty of power behind his punch, giving him speed-to-power and bull-rush potential. He can also be schemed into sacks at this stage thanks to his fluidity and balance when slanting inside on stunts.

How YaYa Diaby Would Fit With the Jaguars

There are enough athletic traits on Diaby's tape to suggest he could function as an edge defender in most fronts, whether as a 4-3 defensive end or as a 3-4 outside linebacker. For a Jaguars defense that could become even more multiple in 2023 and deploy more four-man fronts, Diaby would fit right in at defensive end, giving Travon Walker a chance to move inside and be used in more alignments than he was last year.

Diaby is far from a finished product who is ready to step in and provide an influx of sacks from Day 1, but he does make sense as a situation pass-rusher thanks to his natural athleticism, length and power. He needs some work before he can be an every-down defender, but the Jaguars wouldn't need him to be. They could easily have Walker and Josh Allen play running downs before bringing Diaby onto the field on third down, similar to how they utilized Arden Key last year.

Diaby's long-term potential makes him a solid fit for the Jaguars' timeline. Any edge defender they take will need to be able to pack a punch as a pass-rusher in 2023 but would have at least a year to develop his overall skills before the Jaguars potentially turn to them as a starting defender. In short, a project like Diaby would fit the Jaguars' own needs well both in 2023 and beyond.

Verdict

In terms of Day 2 pass-rushing prospects, YaYa Diaby has plenty of traits that should entice teams like the Jaguars. He doesn't have the tape or production of a bonafide top-50 pick, but his upside and athletic testing mean he is likely to go in the top-75. No. 56 overall might be a bit rich for him, but it feels unlikely he would slide to the Jaguars' third-round pick. He needs development, but there is at least a tangible upside worth tapping into.

For all of our 2023 NFL Draft profiles, click below.