In football, a slant route is built on timing and precision. The receiver does not waste motion – he breaks sharply across the field into open space before the defense can react. It is simple in design, but separation is created through execution.

That same approach defines my weekly Saturday Bucs column, Slivon’s Slant.

Each week from now until training camp, I will take a look inside a different Bucs position group. The goal is to cut through the surface to find the clearest path in evaluating this roster as it takes shape. Then, once the season begins, the column will continue offering different angles for breaking down and discussing the team. So far, I have offered in-depth profiles of the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, and defensive line positions.

With those positions covered, it is time to examine the outside linebackers.

Inside The Bucs Outside Linebacker Room

Arc-Rushing Alien: Yaya Diaby

While Rueben Bain Jr.’s arrival has shifted some of the spotlight away from Yaya Diaby, that could ultimately benefit both players. In turn, that should bring about the most complete version of Diaby yet. For where he was drafted, the 2023 third-round pick has proved to be a profitable investment. Across his first three seasons, he has put together a solid stat line of 142 tackles, 38 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks.

“Sub-Zero” knows how to get after the quarterback, recording 65 quarterback pressures in 2024 and 62 in 2025. Those numbers tied for ninth-most and 15th-most in the league, respectively. The next step for him is converting those chances into results and becoming a double-digit sack artist.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Diaby relies on power to overwhelm offensive tackles, but he did not enter the league as the most technically refined pass rusher. That has been a work in progress, but his strongest attack is utilizing his 4.51 speed and bull-rush capabilities to catapult into the backfield. Having just turned 27 years old, this season will determine his trajectory, and ultimately, his second contract.

Even second-tier edge rushers are beginning to command more than $20 million annually. That is a significant sum Tampa Bay will have to consider paying him. While what comes of his next contract remains to be seen, Diaby will not have to carry the load when it comes to the outside pass rush.

Hurricane Hitman: Rueben Bain Jr.

Rueben Bain Jr. has been the talk of the town since the Bucs were able to land him with the 15th overall pick. The immediate reaction was that Tampa Bay landed one of the biggest draft steals in Bain, someone many evaluators viewed as a top-10 talent. Now, it is time to prove the Bucs right and everyone else wrong. That message was well-received at the 2026 NFL Draft, when he snatched the hat off the table and was all business. Bringing a chip on his shoulder will serve the outside pass rush well, especially because his talent is obvious whenever he is on the field.

Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The biggest knock on Bain during the pre-draft process was his arm length, something he cannot control but makes the most of. While built a little bit sawed-off, take one look at him, and those concerns quickly evaporate. At 6-foot-2, 270 pounds, he is a stout presence coming off the edge, with the best aspect of his frame being an explosive lower half which allows him to burst off the line with power and violence, maintaining acceleration around the arc. As soon as he is clear of his matchup, quarterbacks have to brace for “Hurricane Bain.”

It was at Miami where he formed a lethal pass-rushing duo with Akheem Mesidor. During his final season at “The U,” Bain recorded 54 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. He has the ability to be a disruptive force, and at just 21 years old, Bain has the talent and opportunity to become the centerpiece of the pass rush for years to come.

Savvy Sack Surgeon: Al-Quadin Muhammad

Al-Quadin Muhammad has had quite a journey to get to where he is with the Bucs. In just a few seasons, Muhammad has gone from being out of the league in 2023 to notching 11 sacks for the Lions in 2025. Now 31 years old, he has gone through his share of highs and lows. Tampa Bay is betting on him to put together another productive season in a similar role as a situational pass-rusher. Do not get it confused, though, he can take over games even on a more limited snap count. 7.5 of his 11 sacks came in just three games, capped off by a three-sack day playing just 46.3% of Detroit’s defensive snaps.

Bucs OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

One might solely see him as the beneficiary of playing next to Aidan Hutchinson. That would help any pass rusher, but as Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo recently highlighted, his ability to pursue and take down the quarterback should not be discounted. Paired next to one of Diaby or Bain will allow him to clean up the chaos they create.

From the jump, he will be the third outside linebacker in the room and serve as a quality depth piece. It is not bold to assume him surpassing Haason Reddick’s minimal contributions, but it is too much to assume he will be a double-digit sacker. Instead, my slant in predicting what he brings is somewhere between five to seven sacks.

Undersized Underdog: David Walker

The hype train surrounding David Walker has been real since he was drafted in the fourth round last season, but that train was derailed. After showcasing encouraging signs during rookie mini-camp and OTAs – signs I saw firsthand – a torn ACL prematurely ended his rookie season. While members of an NFL team’s front office will always promote their own players, Walker truly looked like someone destined to exceed expectations. It was an unfortunate turn of events that it did not come to fruition in 2025 when he had the platform, but Walker has a chance to earn substantial playtime and make the most of it.

Bucs OLB David Walker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Southern Arkansas and Central Arkansas product is a little bit undersized height-wise compared to the other outside linebackers in the room. That would be viewed as a negative for most, but instead, it elicited comparisons to James Harrison and Dwight Freeney. It is unfair to expect him to perform at that level, but Walker has a polished pass-rushing repertoire. That allowed him to tally 39 sacks across four collegiate seasons, and it was seen as a shrewd move for Tampa Bay to land him on Day 3 of the draft. So, given all the promise, what can Walker bring in 2026?

In a world where Yaya Diaby and Rueben Bain play 70% of the defensive snaps and Muhammad receives 40%, that leaves him the chance to earn 25-30% of the weekly snap count. Based on what he does best, Walker would be brought in on passing downs to get after the quarterback. He is able to generate enough leverage to hold up against the run and become more than a niche player.

At 26 years old, he has to showcase that he is NFL-ready from the moment he hits the field to carve out a more long-term path. He is someone my eyes will be on often during next month’s training camp and into the preseason.

Steady-Snap Specialist: Anthony Nelson

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles says it best about Anthony Nelson whenever he talks about him to the media – he is a “steady Eddie.” Drafted as a fourth-round pick in 2019, Nelson has made a successful living in the league as a fourth or fifth pass rusher who gets the occasional spot start. He has done enough in that role to provide Bowles a trustworthy option when the team’s depth has been tested. Over the past five seasons, “Nelly” has recorded three or more sacks every year. As the popular online meme says, “it ain’t much, but it’s honest work.”

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson and ILB SirVocea Dennis and Saints QB Spencer Rattler – Photo by: IMAGN Images

Nelson is an imposing figure at 6-foot-7. That allows him to hold the edge and use his length to create mismatches and openings to make plays. That was on display the most in Week 8 against the Saints, when he recorded two sacks and a pick-six. Entering his eighth season, his fit within the room is on less certain ground. Age is not on his side compared to the other pass rushers vying for playing time. He fits as a fifth outside linebacker, but he is a solid option. Bowles will find ways to get him on the field, even if it is on a more sporadic basis.

Fading Future: Chris Braswell

Chris Braswell was supposed to be the answer to the Bucs problem at the outside linebacker position. As the team’s second-round pick in 2024, Braswell had every chance to stake his claim as a starter, given Shaq Barrett’s departure and Randy Gregory never suiting up for the team. Not only did he disappoint as a rookie, but his progression has stagnated to the point where his future in Tampa Bay is quickly fading.

At 24 years old, he has time to turn his career around if given more playing time. Yet, it seems highly unlikely to happen in red and pewter.

Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Across 34 games, Braswell has an underwhelming career stat line of 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Once seen as a physical pass rusher off the edge, his role declined in 2025 despite the team’s urgent need for help at the position. Even with this being said, he still has a way to make an impact.

His chances of making progress on defense are slim to none barring injury, but he does deserve credit for flashing on special teams last season. That will not allow Braswell to overcome the perception of being a bust, however; it is his best way to have career longevity. If he earns the trust of Danny Smith on the unit, one might hear Braswell’s name differently on game day.

Closing Slant

The Bucs outside linebacker room has seen a significant overhaul compared to this point last year – and for the better. Tampa Bay has struggled to solidify the room ever since Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett’s best days were behind them following the 2021 season. What speaks to the struggle at identifying pass rushers is the team electing to re-sign Barrett and Pierre-Paul late in the season in 2024 and 2025, well past their prime. There is no need for the organization to reek of desperation anymore, not with the duo of Yaya Diaby and Rueben Bain Jr. leading the way.

In a best-case scenario, the top two pass rushers are a potent duo for years to come, with Diaby earning a contract extension and Bain being everything that the fanbase is hoping for. Behind them is a quality second wave of talent, with Al-Quadin Muhammad capable of getting sacks in bunches. David Walker is more of an unknown commodity, but he drew rave reviews before his ACL injury. Anthony Nelson is about the best fifth outside linebacker a team could ask for. Right now, Chris Braswell looks far closer to bust status than breakout candidate, but even he can bring value if he develops into a core special teamer.

The biggest question is whether the Bucs have merely improved the position or transformed it. Diaby has already proven he can create pressure, Bain arrives with Pro Bowl-level expectations, and Muhammad gives the room a veteran finisher. If all three meet expectations, Tampa Bay could field its deepest edge-rushing rotation since the team’s Super Bowl era.

Overall, my slant on this room is that it will be the most critical group to unlock Todd Bowles’ defense. Should they get home and work hand-in-hand with the defensive line, the pass rush will be significantly improved. If that happens, that is when Bowles’ defensive play-calling is at its best, and the entire unit will be better for it.