Yaya Diaby is believed to be a potential long-term answer to the Bucs pass-rushing consistency issues they have had in recent years. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2023, he was coming off a nine sack season and then added 7.5 as a rookie for the Bucs. In 2024, however, he only had 4.5 which he cannot be happy with in terms of the box score but it doesn't tell the whole story.
Speaking on the Pewter Report Podcast, Diaby acknowledges that the dip in sack production from 2023 to 2024 may have affected how people view him.
He says, “Besides the sack numbers, I feel like I made major growth in every other category. I just want to thank myself and congratulate myself on that part, you know? I know for sure the sack part is going to come.”
When people look at defensive player of the year winners, sacks are their go-to statistic. It is why Steelers and Browns fans still argue over whether Myles Garrett or T.J. Watt is the better player. For the Bucs, yeah, they would have liked more production out of Yaya Diaby, but the pressures were being created by him as he compiled 65 of them and had 38 defensive stops. Both of those numbers had him ranked in the top ten across the NFL, according to PFF.
Yaya Diaby will be okay, he is going to be a vital part of this defense in 2025. If the team adds more pass rushers after adding Haason Reddick, it will take pressure and attention off him to perhaps increase those sack numbers like he and everyone else would like to see.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Yaya Diaby believes sack production affected people's thoughts on him
