The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Proper now, we’re:
65 days away from Bucs common season kickoff35 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff19 days away from Bucs coaching camp
Within the lead-up to coaching camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams can be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who can be essential to the Bucs’ success in 2026.
At the moment, the sequence continues as we flip over to the defensive facet of the ball, first specializing in exterior linebacker Yaya Diaby.
26 For ‘26: Yaya Diaby Bucs Storylines In 2026
Can Yaya Diaby Lastly Attain Double-Digit Sacks In 2026?
The query has been surrounding Diaby for 3 seasons now: Can he turn into a double-digit sacker for the Bucs? Pewter Report has talked and written a complete lot about his double-digit sack potential (right here, right here and right here, for starters), however is 2026 the 12 months he lastly reaches that threshold that each move rusher goals for when a brand new season arrives? There are many causes to imagine it’ll lastly occur for the 27-year-old in his fourth NFL season.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
For one, Diaby has hit the seven-sack mark twice in his first three years, totaling 7.5 as a rookie in 2023 regardless of solely beginning for a portion of the season and tallying seven in 2025. He posted 30 pressures as a rookie, hit 70 in 2024 and got here by way of with one other 62 final 12 months. His strain numbers over the past couple of years have been up there amongst a number of the league’s greatest, so the alternatives have been there for the taking. And that’s been with out a lot assist off the opposite edge.
The choice of former Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 15 general choose again in April must be enormous for the Bucs protection, and there is probably not one other singular participant inside the unit who advantages extra from the rookie’s presence than Diaby. Keep in mind how direct Diaby was together with his phrases on the finish of the 2025 season? He referred to as for hungrier move rushers and admitted that he typically felt like he was on the market by himself. That gained’t be the case anymore in 2026.
Not solely did the workforce add Bain, who’s a fierce move rusher who will get his personal sacks but in addition function a drive multiplier for these round him, but it surely additionally added veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad through free company this offseason after he had an 11-sack season taking part in reverse Aidan Hutchinson in Detroit final 12 months. Throw David Walker, final 12 months’s fourth-round choose, into the combination after his return from a season-ending knee damage and there’s extra depth at exterior linebacker for the Bucs than there’s been in years. When Anthony Nelson is relegated to being your No. 5, that speaks to improved depth within the room.
Diaby ought to see enormous advantages from the improved depth inside the group, as opposing offenses can have extra move rushers to fret about. Not solely that, however these move rushers will flush quarterbacks his manner and in addition give Diaby an opportunity to remain recent over the course of every sport and all through the season. All of that — mixed with the pure ascension the 2023 third-round choose has been on throughout his profession — ought to yield his first-ever NFL season with double-digit sacks. Will that come to fruition? Time will inform. However that is the very best shot Diaby has needed to show he has that potential in him.
Will Yaya Diaby Be A First-Time Captain For The Bucs In 2026?
The Bucs have some huge sneakers to fill when it comes to management on their protection this season after the retirement of 14-year veteran, longtime captain and profession Buccaneer Lavonte David. When the time comes to decide on workforce captains for the 2026 season, David will now not be there as an apparent selection. He was a lock to put on the captain’s “C” for thus lengthy, however now it’ll be somebody new doing so this 12 months. May that somebody new be Diaby?
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Effectively earlier than final season started, Diaby talked about stepping up as a pacesetter within the locker room, even going so far as telling David that he was going to assist the veteran lead the Bucs in 2025. It appeared as if he adopted by way of on that purpose in 2025 even with out carrying the “C” patch on his jersey. With David gone now, there’s a void, and you may guess that Diaby can be trying to fill that void, captainship or no captainship.
The fourth-year professional has a case to be named a captain for this Tampa Bay workforce in 2026, particularly after the best way he stepped up and spoke with conviction following the workforce’s collapse down the stretch final 12 months. Along with what he stated about feeling alone on the market in speeding the passer, he additionally preached the significance of everybody on protection really being purchased in, plus he was one of many gamers who brazenly questioned the variety of walk-through practices the Bucs had and said his perception that it harm the workforce ultimately. Three gamers shared their ideas on that, however Diaby was the one one who went absolutely on the document.
That was a really public show of management from Diaby, and the truth that he’s been the workforce’s main sacker in two of his three seasons and has performed in 51 out of a potential 51 video games throughout his profession provides him some added credibility as properly. To not point out, he’s 27 years outdated and getting into his fourth 12 months with the Bucs, which makes him a uncommon mixture of a younger participant and one who has expertise, significantly inside Todd Bowles’ protection and inside the group.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Diaby can have some competitors in the case of incomes captainship on the defensive facet of the ball. Vita Vea, one of many longest-tenured Bucs and the longest-tenured member of the protection, is more likely to earn the “C” once more in 2026. Antoine Winfield Jr. is a three-year captain himself and is more likely to retain that function this 12 months, too. So, that in all probability solely leaves one spot. Who will get it? When he retired, David spoke extremely of Tykee Smith’s management and potential for captaincy in his absence whereas additionally mentioning Diaby and Calijah Kancey. Veteran inside linebacker Alex Anzalone can have a case regardless of being a newcomer, too.
No matter if he’s a captain or not, count on Diaby to be one of many loudest voices and largest leaders for this Buccaneer workforce.
When Will Yaya Diaby’s Contract Scenario Be Cleared Up?
The lingering storyline surrounding Diaby because the 2026 season approaches has to do together with his future. He gave the impression to be a possible candidate for an early contract extension like those Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke and Zyon McCollum have gotten lately, however normal supervisor Jason Licht has provided little in response to questions on a brand new contract for his No. 1 move rusher. It might nonetheless be coming forward of coaching camp or maybe even into camp, or possibly Tampa Bay will make Diaby play out the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract.
If it’s the latter, it’ll give Diaby much more motivation to interrupt out in a giant manner and smash by way of that 10-sack threshold for the primary time in his profession. In fact, given the Bucs’ checklist of pending free brokers together with Diaby, a monstrous season for the ascending move rusher might make issues actually fascinating for the workforce’s determination makers. Effectively, fascinating and doubtlessly troublesome/problematic.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is in a contract 12 months himself, as are defensive deal with Vita Vea and kicker Chase McLaughlin, who stays extraordinarily worthwhile to the Bucs. May Vea’s obvious “hold-in” over his need for a pay increase or new contract be holding up a potential early extension for Diaby? Both manner, there are numerous mouths that should be fed by the point free company rolls round, so how will this play out for No. 0? We’ll have to attend and see.
What if it comes right down to a tricky determination, although? Would Tampa Bay prioritize Vea, its 2018 first-round choose who’s getting into 12 months 9 with the workforce and remains to be an important a part of the protection regardless of hitting his 30s? Or would the workforce go together with the youthful Diaby, who’s reaching the prime of his profession at a premium place (one the Bucs have struggled to adequately fill for some time now and at last have two promising younger starters)? Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo wrote about this lately and predicted that the workforce would go together with Diaby, which might make good sense. Although 2026 might affect that call if it does come down to 1 or the opposite.
So far as what a possible new contract for Diaby would possibly seem like? Queipo’s projection for him is alongside the strains of what Odafe Oweh simply signed for with the Commanders: 4 years for $96 million. When he will get that potential extension stays up within the air, and it could be one thing that lingers into the 2027 calendar 12 months.
Catch Up On Earlier Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Sequence
OFFENSE:
Baker MayfieldBucky IrvingKenny GainwellChris Godwin Jr.Emeka EgbukaJalen McMillanCade OttonTristan WirfsBen BredesonGraham BartonCody MauchLuke Goedeke
