After dealing with entrenchments in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Bucks added pass rushing help with the third round pick (82nd overall) and selected Louisville EDGE YaYa Diaby.
Diaby climbed the ranks in striking fashion. He was originally an unstarred recruit out of high school, working at an airport before playing for the Georgia Military Academy. In his two seasons there, he recorded seven sacks and 24 tackles. He then went to Louisville where he continued his development. After a modest production in 2020 and his 2021, he broke out during his 2022 season, losing on nine sacks and his 14 tackles.
Louisville Edge Yaya Diaby Photo Credit: USA Today
Diaby then helped Stock in the Senior Bowl, actually working internally as an internal defensive lineman and showing his strength and ability to anchor against runs. Projected as an edge rusher sized to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. The former Cardinals star continued his impressive pre-draft process by dominating at the combine, which further boosted his stock.
The Bucs want to get faster on defense, and Diaby was one of the fastest, most athletic outside linebackers in this year’s draft. He recorded his 4.51 seconds his 40-yard dash (1.51 10-yard split) at Indianapolis. The muscular Cardinals defender has strong hands and long arms that allow him to win with his rushing power and edge speed.
Bucs learned Diaby at the Senior Bowl and I duly interviewed him at Combine. He may not be ready for an immediate start in the NFL, but in addition to being a quality contributor on special teams, he is a situational pass rusher as he develops during his rookie season. may become.
YaYa Diaby breathes new life into Bucs’ Pass Rush
Louisville Edge YaYa Diaby Photo Credit: USA Today
The Bucks have always been in the market for early-round edge rushers this weekend, especially given the conditions outside the linebacker room.
Shaquil Barrett will turn 31 in November due to a torn Achilles tendon. It’s a tough injury to recover from, especially for someone who relies on his launch and speed to get a win, and the Bucks hope he’ll be back in shape in his 2023 season. We need to, but be cautious, if not concerned, about whether he will.
Meanwhile, 2021 first-round pick Joe Tryon Soyinka has yet to defend his draft status. He entered his third season, recording his four sacks each in his first two seasons. He will soon be 24 and his athleticism is perfectly there, but he has so far missed more sacks than he has earned at the NFL level. 2023 is going to be a big season for him as he needs to take the next step.
Behind Barrett and Tryon-Shoyinka is recently re-signed Anthony Nelson. Nelson is a solid third in Tampa Bay for him, but that’s where his limits end. Cam Gil is another depth player for the Bucks, but he’s free from his own season-ending injury and may not be the rock to make his roster.
Louisville Edge YaYa Diaby Photo Credit: USA Today
So given the question mark at the top of Edgerusher’s depth chart, the addition of YaYa Diaby breathes new life into the room.
Tampa Bay’s leading footballer in 2022 was nose tackle Vita Bear, who had 6.5 sacks. Nelson tied for second most with 5.5 among linebacker Devin White. As such, Bowles was unhappy with the work he got from Edge Rusher.
In his final post-season press conference, Bowles said of pass rushing, “No, I don’t think it’s great. I think the last three years have been similar in numbers, but at least within three or four. They were similar in terms, but they all came from different people.I wonder when your nose is [tackle] I don’t think I had enough pass rushes.
“Some fell, some missed, but they were from multiple groups of people. I think I’ve gotten better from a pass defense standpoint in that respect, but I can also rush passers better.”
Diaby, who turns 24 in May, is a late bloomer and the best football is still ahead of him. Tampa Bay has Barrett and Tryon Soyinka as off-the-edge starters, but Louisville’s offerings join Nelson and Gill to add some much-needed depth. And given the uncertain future of the position, the Bucks must be thrilled to land Diaby, a high-upside guy they can develop.
