Bucs Draft EDGE YaYa Diaby In Round 3

After addressing the trenches in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Bucs added some pass rushing help with their third-round pick (No. 82 overall), selecting Louisville EDGE YaYa Diaby.

Diaby has risen up the ranks in impressive fashion. He was originally a no-star recruit out of high school and worked at an airport before trying out to play at Georgia Military College. During his two seasons there, he tallied seven sacks and 24 tackles for loss. He then ended up at Louisville, where he continued to develop. After modest production in 2020 and 2021, he broke out during the 2022 season, posting nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss.

Louisville EDGE Yaya Diaby Photo By: USA Today

Diaby then helped his stock at the Senior Bowl, where he actually worked inside as an interior defensive lineman, showcasing his strength and ability to anchor against the run. But he projects as an edge rusher with the size to be a 4-3 defensive end or a 3-4 outside linebacker. The former Cardinals star continued his impressive pre-draft process by dominating at the Combine, which further upped his stock.

The Bucs want to get faster on defense, and Diaby was one of the fastest and most athletic outside linebackers in this year’s draft. He blazed a 4.51-second 40-yard dash (1.51 10-yard split) in Indianapols, doing so at 6-foot-3, 263 pounds. The muscular Cardinals defender has strong hands and long arms, and he can win with power on bull rushes or with speed around the edge.

The Bucs studied Diaby at the Senior Bowl and formally interviewed him at the Combine. He may not be ready to start right away in the NFL, but could be a situational pass rusher as he develops during his rookie season, in addition to being a quality contributor on special teams.

YaYa Diaby Gives The Bucs’ Pass Rush New Life

Louisville EDGE YaYa Diaby Photo By: USA Today

The Bucs were always going to be in the market for an early-round edge rusher this weekend, especially given the state of their outside linebacker room.

Shaquil Barrett is set to turn 31 in November, plus he’s coming off of a torn Achilles tendon. That’s an injury that can be tough to come back from, especially for someone who relies on his get-off and speed to win. The Bucs have to hope he’ll return to form in 2023, but there has to be some caution – if not worry – about whether he’ll do so.

Meanwhile, 2021 first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has yet to live up to his draft status. He’s entering year three having stalled at four sacks in each of his first two seasons. The athleticism is absolutely there for the soon-to-be 24-year-old, but he’s missing more sacks than he’s making so far at the NFL level. The 2023 season will be a big one for him, as he needs to take the next step.

Behind Barrett and Tryon-Shoyinka is the recently re-signed Anthony Nelson. Nelson is a solid No. 3 for Tampa Bay, but that’s about where his ceiling is. Cam Gill is another depth piece for the Bucs, but he’s coming off of a season-ending injury of his own and likely isn’t a lock to make the roster.

Louisville EDGE YaYa Diaby Photo By: USA Today

So, given the question marks at the top of the depth chart at edge rusher, the addition of YaYa Diaby breathes some new life into the room – new life that is sorely needed.

Tampa Bay’s leading sacker in 2022 was nose tackle Vita Vea, who racked up 6.5 sacks. Nelson tied inside linebacker Devin White for the second-most with 5.5. That left Bowles unhappy with the production he got out of his edge rushers.

“No, I don’t think it was great,” Bowles said of the pass rush in his final press conference after the season. “I think we were similar the last three years in numbers – or at least within three or four, number-wise – but they all came from different guys. I think when your nose [tackle] is your leading sack guy, I don’t think the pass rush was good enough.

“We fell off some, we missed some – but they came from a multiple group of people. You want to be able to get there with four so you can play more coverage. I thought we got better from a pass defense standpoint in that aspect, but we can also rush the passer better.”

Diaby, who will turn 24 in May, is a late bloomer whose best football is still ahead of him. Tampa Bay has Barrett and Tryon-Shoyinka as its starters off the edge, but the Louisville product will add some much-needed depth, joining Nelson and Gill. And given the uncertainty of the position’s future, the Bucs have to be thrilled with landing Diaby, a high-upside guy who they can develop.

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