The Buccaneers may have won a nail-biter and now enter Week 4 undefeated, but a major early storyline in the Sunshine State surrounds a third-year player who has absolutely arrived on the sports biggest stage.
A former third-rounder in 2023, Yaya Diaby has delivered a clear message through three weeks: He's no longer just a promising piece of Todd Bowles’ defense, he’s becoming a centerpiece.
Total pressure leaders from the early window:
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) September 21, 2025
- Yaya Diaby (TB): 10
- Nick Herbig (PIT): 8
- Josh Hines-Allen (JAX): 7
- Quinnen Williams (NYJ): 6
- Rashan Gary (GB): 6
- Cam Heyward (PIT): 6
- Dallas Turner (MIN): 5
- Laiatu Latu (IND): 5
A physical presence at five-tech (aligned on the outside shoulder of the OT), Diaby was everywhere on Sunday afternoon posting a career-best outing with 10 total pressures on Jets QB Tyrod Taylor.
From the opening drive to the final whistle, Diaby showcased his explosive first step, power through contact, and relentless motor -- tools that made him a Day 2 draft pick and are now starting to blossom into elite-level production.
For Bowles, who thrives on generating havoc up front and disguising pressure looks, Diaby’s breakout couldn’t come at a better time. The Buccaneers have long leaned on veterans within the front seven, but Diaby’s rise gives the front a new, youth-infused dimension.
Instead of relying on exotic blitz packages to manufacture heat, Bowles is getting consistent one-on-one wins from a player who looks more polished and disruptive each week.
Against the Jets, Diaby wasn’t just tallying numbers in the pass-rush column -- he was dictating protection calls. On multiple occasions, New York slid help his way, a level of respect usually reserved for the elites of elites up front.
Even then, he split double teams and flushed the athletic Taylor from the pocket, forcing hurried throws that kept Tampa Bay’s defense within striking distance throughout the game.
Statistically, the numbers tell part of the story, but the eye test revealed just how much of a problem Diaby has become. His blend of raw power and closing speed jumps off the tape, and his ability to win with both inside counters and outside bend makes him a difficult assignment for any offensive tackle.
As his pass-rush plan has matured, so too has his consistency -- a hallmark of true difference-makers in the NFL.
Teammates and coaches have long raved about Diaby’s work ethic since his arrival a few years back, but the production is now catching up with the potential.
Ten total pressures in a single game is a mark reserved for the league’s premier sack artists, and it puts him on a trajectory where elite performances could become weekly expectation should he use each week as a springboard for the next.
For the Bucs, it's potential game-changing development. Bowles has built his reputation on aggressive, multiple fronts, and having a homegrown edge presence capable of wrecking games changes the calculus for Tampa Bay’s defense.
With Diaby surging in his third season, the Buccaneers suddenly look more dangerous up front -- and if his Week 3 performance is any indication, the best may still be ahead.
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