The Bucs are relying on their latest move rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to make a right away affect. In the event you ask fellow edge rusher Yaya Diaby, the mindset is already there.
A few days after Bain was chosen within the first spherical by Tampa Bay, Diaby and a handful of teammates, together with Antoine Winfield Jr., Calijah Kancey, A’Shawn Robinson and Tristan Wirfs, had a brunch with Bain and his household as a manner of bringing him in to the workforce and beginning to kind that teammate chemistry. Quarterback Baker Mayfield did so final season when receiver Emeka Egbuka was picked within the first spherical. This yr, the protection and Wirfs did their half with Bain.
Showing on Kay Adams’ Present “Up & Adams,” Diaby talked about assembly Bain for the primary time.
Yaya Diaby Tells All About First Assembly With Reuben Bain Jr.
“It was just a good time just to welcome the guy just knowing that we’re super happy that he’s part of this team,” Yaya Diaby mentioned. “He had his family come out as well, and just showing his family that we’re super excited to have him as part of our team. We can’t wait to work him him. The sky’s the limit.”
It was an enormous shock that Rueben Bain Jr. fell all the way in which to No. 15 the place the Buccaneers have been excited to make him their first-round decide. Diaby has led the Buccaneers in sacks twice in his three years in Tampa Bay, together with final yr with seven sacks, however the workforce nonetheless wants a primary edge rusher. As top-of-the-line edge rushers in faculty soccer final yr, that’s a task that Bain is predicted to play.
Bucs edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. – Picture courtesy of: The College of Miami – Mikayla Oliveira
When discussing Tampa Bay’s first-round decide Bain, Diaby provided an early glimpse into why the workforce is so enthusiastic about its latest addition to the defensive entrance.
“Just by the look in his eyes, he’s hungry,” Diaby mentioned about assembly Bain. “He’s got that mad, mad, mad look, like he’s ready to get after it. You could see from the walk that he had (at the draft) he went right past the hat, he picked up the hat and went right to the stage. You could tell how hungry he is and how ready he is. Honestly, the whole edge class, he was the best in my eyes. I’m just so happy to have him as part of this team.”
That sort of endorsement carries weight coming from Diaby, who has shortly emerged because the Buccaneers’ most lively and productive edge defender. His recognition of Bain’s mentality speaks to what Tampa Bay has prioritized — gamers, or on this case, an edge rusher, who performs with urgency, physicality, and an attacking mindset.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Picture by: USA Immediately
Bain constructed his popularity in faculty as a disruptive pressure with a relentless motor. His potential to win with energy and burst made him some of the coveted defensive linemen within the draft. And it’s that very same power that has already caught the eye of his new teammates.
When Bain spoke at his introductory press convention in entrance of Tampa Bay media, he mentioned that it didn’t hassle him that he was handed up by so many groups, citing that he has sufficient motivation as it’s. From what might have been mentioned whereas they broke bread, although, might be totally different.
“He’s pissed,” Diaby mentioned.
Bucs Gamers Are Thrilled With The Bain Choose
Yaya Diaby is in search of extra of a management function this season and believes he can step up into that spot. Being there for the latest addition to the workforce actually exhibits it. He’s already an enormous Rueben Bain Jr. supporter, too, telling Kay Adams that he instantly texted head coached Todd Bowles in approval of the decide when it was made.
“As soon as they made the pick, I texted Coach Bowles and said, ‘Great pick.’”
Bucs edge Rueben Bain Jr., GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: Cliff Welch P/R
Hopefully Diaby and Bain might be an amazing tandem collectively this season and assist take the Bucs’ move rush, which completed 2025 with a disappointing 37 sacks, to new heights.
Try the complete interview with Diaby and Adams by clicking this hyperlink.
Pewter Report spent all week breaking down the Buccaneers’ 2026 draft class. We had Trevor Sikkema, Greg Cosell and Greg Auman all on totally different exhibits to share their opinions of Tampa Bay’s group. Subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel to look at every episode.
