The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pass rush may have finished in the top 10 in pressures, pressure percentage, and sacks, but this does not mean that they did not struggle in 2024. The Buccaneers’ unit had a hard time consistently rushing the passer without utilizing exotic blitzes or blitz packages, as they finished with the second-most blitzes and the third-highest percentage. The defense hopes for a better outcome in 2025 and to blitz less, allowing them to drop seven in coverage and have their front four do the dirty work.
One player who has not received the credit he deserves for wreaking havoc is their EDGE rusher, who enters Year 3.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ third-rounder has been overlooked
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Yaya Diaby
Oct 27, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) looks on against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Although he did not have the most eye-popping sack numbers in 2024, with 4.5 sacks, Yaya Diaby consistently wreaked havoc on opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks. Diaby had one of the highest pass-rush win rates and total pressures among EDGE rushers. He posted a jaw-dropping 18.1% pass-rush win rate and 70 pressures in 18 games per PFF.
PFFdid not allow his impressive second season to go unnoticed.
PFF named him the team’s most underrated player
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Yaya Diaby
Jan 5, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) celebrates after getting a stop in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
PFF went through each of the 32 teams’ most underrated players who do not get the credit they deserve, and those who are often overlooked and underappreciated. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they named Yaya Diaby and pointed to his high pass-rush win rate and total pressures. They believe he will increase his sack totals and become an even better star in this league.
“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,” Jonathon Macri said.
“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 emergent star expects to record more sacks in 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Yaya Diaby
Sep 22, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) is introduced before a game against the Denver Broncos at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
“I feel like it gets overlooked because when people search up your name, they go straight to sacks because you’re an edge rusher,” Diaby said, via Coral Smith of NFL.com. “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.”
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