The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2024 season with impressive defensive numbers. Top 10 in total pressures, pressure percentage, and sacks. But those numbers came at a cost. Tampa Bay relied on heavy blitzing more than almost any other team, finishing second in blitz attempts and third in blitz percentage. Heading into 2025, defensive coaches are hoping to shift that balance, to generate pressure with just the front four and drop more players into coverage.
One player who could help them make that shift is Yaya Diaby.
Now entering his third year, Diaby didn’t rack up a flashy sack total last season, just 4.5 in 18 games. But his impact was far greater than the stat sheet shows. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Diaby had a pass-rush win rate of 18.1%, ranking him in the top 10 among all edge rushers.
He also recorded 70 total pressures, further proof that he was consistently disrupting quarterbacks, even if it didn’t always lead to a sack.
PFF Names Yaya Diaby the Buccaneers’ Most Underrated Player
PFF recently highlighted one underappreciated player from every NFL team, and Diaby took the honor for Tampa Bay. Analyst Jonathon Macri noted that while Diaby’s sack numbers didn’t explode, his advanced metrics tell a much bigger story.
“Diaby didn’t explode in the sack column in 2024, which kept his play under the radar,” Macri said. “But his pass-rush metrics suggest he had a breakout year. He’s likely to regress positively in that regard and won’t be underrated for long.”
Diaby Aims Higher in 2025
Diaby is well aware that sacks get the most attention, especially for edge rushers. But he’s proud of the strides he made across the board; improving not just his pass rush but also his run defense.
“People go straight to sacks when they look up an edge rusher,” Diaby said. “But I improved in everything, run defense, pass rush. It’s a game of inches, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”
The Buccaneers try to rely less on blitzing and more on raw front-four pressure. And Diaby will play a massive role. If his performance continues to trend upward, don’t be surprised if he becomes a household name by midseason.
