Should QBs fear him?
Since Bucs edge rusher YaYa Diaby had a home sack against Carolina in December of 2023 to give him five sacks as a rookie, YaYa has hit a drought.
In the 22 regular-season games since his fifth sack, YaYa has seven sacks. Not exactly great.
Joe thinks the cause of that dropoff was twofold. Few teams knew YaYa existed in his rookie season. Once he played and racked up sacks, teams began preparing for him.
Then last year, teams knew YaYa was the only Bucs edge rusher they had to worry about. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka? Pppfffttt! Teams pretty much left him alone, sort of, with single coverage and decided to make sure YaYa didn’t hurt them.
So in a sense, YaYa last year was a marked man.
On paper, one would think YaYa will have a better 2025 season. Joe will get to that in a moment. So over at BSPN, Seth Walder, a guy who never met a number he didn’t like, is thinking YaYa busts out this fall as one of the [better edge rushers](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45944636/nfl-team-previews-2025-predictions-fantasy-sleepers-rankings-depth-charts#tb).
> **Bold prediction for 2025:** Diaby will record double-digit sacks in a breakout season. Diaby put up a solid 15% pass rush win rate as a sophomore (close to average for an edge rusher) along with 4.5 sacks. In Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy scheme, his numbers could jump.
Joe thinks YaYa may just live up to Walder’s expectations.
YaYa went to Maxx Crosby’s “Sack Summit” in Las Vegas over the summer. That’s where all the top edge rushers in the game — past, present and future — gather to help each other improve with ideas and techniques.
Joe spoke with YaYa in training camp and he is convinced the small things he learned at the “Sack Summit” will translate into more sacks.
Also, if Haason Reddick can make any sort of dent with production, teams will have to account for him. Reddick succeeding would mean a third focus for offenses: Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Reddick. There are only so many bodies a team can use on offense. So, YaYa ought to see a lot more single coverage if Reddick plays well.
Combine that with YaYa appearing in the best shape of his life and being a wider edge rusher, YaYa very well could blow up this fall.