The Tampa Bay Buccaneers own the NFC’s worst record at 1-5, and their season is quickly approaching the point of no return.
With the trade deadline approaching, questions are naturally surfacing about which players the Buccaneers could shop to acquire draft picks and build for the future.
While defensive tackle Vita Vea is the big fish whose name is already being floated in trade rumors, edge rusher Yaya Diaby is a much more likely trade chip.
Yaya Diaby could be the Buccaneers’ most realistic trade candidate
Diaby has shown some serious flashes during his Bucs career. He’s a pressure-generating machine who has led the Buccaneers in sacks twice in three seasons, and is a consistently plus run defender.
But his production has declined this year, as he’s yet to record a sack through six games. With rookie Rueben Bain Jr. establishing himself as a starter and David Walker deserving of more playing time, Diaby could see his snap share decrease down the stretch.
Diaby is in the final year of his rookie contract, and Spotrac estimates his market value at $18.1 million per year. With two young edge rushers in Bain and Walker already on the roster, the front office may be reluctant to pay him market value.
If the Buccaneers believe Diaby is likely to leave in free agency, it would be good business for the Buccaneers to get something for him while they can. Shipping him off now would not only land Tampa Bay some valuable draft capital, but open the door for the other edge rushers in the rotation to see increased playing time.
StickToTheModel estimates Diaby is worth a 3rd-round pick on the trade market. If the Buccaneers can get that kind of return, Jason Licht shouldn’t think twice before pulling the trigger.
Which team could trade for Yaya Diaby?
There should be plenty of suitors for a player with Diaby’s skill set. One team in particular, the Dallas Cowboys, immediately catches the eye.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: “I’ll be real clear, I could see being active at the trade deadline if it was something that could help the team this year.”
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 21, 2026
Asked if he could see the team being a seller, he quickly said, “No.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told NFL insider Albert Breer he could be aggressive at the deadline if there’s a move that could help the team win now.
Dallas is playing in a weak NFC East, sitting just 1.5 games out of first place at 2-4. If the Cowboys can shore up the defense, they could become the favorites to win the division.
The Cowboys rank dead-last in rushing defense, allowing a whopping 150 yards per game. They’ve also struggled to get after opposing quarterbacks, recording just eight sacks on the season, tied for second-fewest in the NFL.
Diaby can help in both of those areas with his proven resume of generating pressure and stopping the run. He’s the perfect fit to address what the Cowboys are lacking defensively.
Diaby has totaled 19.5 sacks and three forced fumbles through three seasons, and Pro Football Focus ranks him as the No. 11 run defender at his position this season.
Moving on from a promising young player like Diaby would be a tough pill to swallow, but getting a premium draft pick in return for a player in the final year of his contract would certainly help to soften the blow for a Bucs team that needs to build for the future.
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