Why Yaya Diaby is the Buccaneers' top breakout candidate for 2026?
· Yahoo Sports
Yaya Diaby has been one of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' most productive defenders since entering the NFL, but 2026 could be the season he goes from an underrated pass rusher to one of the league's best.
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On the surface, Diaby is already coming off a strong campaign after leading the Buccaneers with seven sacks in 2025. Dig a little deeper, however, and it's easy to see why he could be poised for an even bigger season. He finished sixth in the NFL in pressure rate among qualifying edge rushers and recorded 62 pressures despite frequently drawing extra attention from opposing offenses.
For much of Diaby's career, Tampa Bay has searched for a consistent running mate off the edge. This offseason, the Buccaneers believe they've finally found one in first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr.
His arrival should make it much more difficult for offenses to slide protection toward Diaby or consistently send extra blockers his way. It's a development Diaby is excited about. He has already praised Bain's talent and competitiveness, while noting the added "juice" the Buccaneers' defensive front has entering 2026.
A healthy Calijah Kancey gives Tampa Bay another disruptive interior pass rusher capable of collapsing the pocket, while veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone provides another player Todd Bowles can use as a blitzer. Those additions should create more one-on-one opportunities for Diaby than he's seen at any point in his career. Diaby also enters a contract year, adding even more motivation. Another productive season could earn him one of the biggest contracts among edge rushers next offseason.
The sacks have yet to fully match the pressure numbers, but that's often the final step for ascending pass rushers. If Diaby continues generating pressure at an elite rate while benefiting from an improved supporting cast, double-digit sacks are well within reach.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Why Yaya Diaby is the Buccaneers' top breakout candidate for 2026?