The Bucs are counting on their newest pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to make an immediate impact. If you ask fellow edge rusher Yaya Diaby, the mindset is already there.

A couple of days after Bain was selected in the first round by Tampa Bay, Diaby and a handful of teammates, including Antoine Winfield Jr., Calijah Kancey, A’Shawn Robinson and Tristan Wirfs, had a brunch with Bain and his family as a way of bringing him in to the team and starting to form that teammate chemistry. Quarterback Baker Mayfield did so last season when receiver Emeka Egbuka was picked in the first round. This year, the defense and Wirfs did their part with Bain.

Appearing on Kay Adams’ Show “Up & Adams,” Diaby talked about meeting Bain for the first time.

Yaya Diaby Tells All About First Meeting 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 said. “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 a big surprise that Rueben Bain Jr. fell all the way to No. 15 where the Buccaneers were excited to make him their first-round pick. Diaby has led the Buccaneers in sacks twice in his three years in Tampa Bay, including last year with seven sacks, but the team still needs a number one edge rusher. As one of the best edge rushers in college football last year, that’s a role that Bain is expected to play.

Bucs edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo courtesy of: The University of Miami – Mikayla Oliveira

When discussing Tampa Bay’s first-round pick Bain, Diaby offered an early glimpse into why the team is so excited about its newest addition to the defensive front.

“Just by the look in his eyes, he’s hungry,” Diaby said about meeting 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 kind of endorsement carries weight coming from Diaby, who has quickly emerged as the Buccaneers’ most active and productive edge defender. His recognition of Bain’s mentality speaks to what Tampa Bay has prioritized — players, or in this case, an edge rusher, who plays with urgency, physicality, and an attacking mindset.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: USA Today

Bain built his reputation in college as a disruptive force with a relentless motor. His ability to win with power and burst made him one of the most coveted defensive linemen in the draft. And it’s that same energy that has already caught the attention of his new teammates.

When Bain spoke at his introductory press conference in front of Tampa Bay media, he said that it didn’t bother him that he was passed up by so many teams, citing that he has enough motivation as it is. From what may have been said while they broke bread, though, could be different.

“He’s pissed,” Diaby said.

Bucs Players Are Thrilled With The Bain Pick

Yaya Diaby is looking for more of a leadership role this season and believes he can step up into that spot. Being there for the newest addition to the team certainly shows it. He’s already a big Rueben Bain Jr. supporter, too, telling Kay Adams that he immediately texted head coached Todd Bowles in approval of the pick 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 – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Hopefully Diaby and Bain will be a great tandem together this season and help take the Bucs’ pass rush, which finished 2025 with a disappointing 37 sacks, to new heights.

Check out the full interview with Diaby and Adams by clicking this link.

Pewter Report spent all week breaking down the Buccaneers’ 2026 draft class. We had Trevor Sikkema, Greg Cosell and Greg Auman all on different shows to share their opinions of Tampa Bay’s group. Subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel to watch each episode.