A fire has been ignited even more under Bucs outside linebacker Yaya Diaby for what’s ahead in the coming months, especially considering we’re just days away from the start of training camp. Between having a replenished team that should have its top players healthy and the new additions helping change the fabric of this team, Diaby believes it will be a big year not just for him, but for the Bucs as a collective.

On Thursday’s appearance on the Pewter Report Podcast, Diaby shared that he’s confident that he can reach 10 sacks for the first time in his career going into his fourth NFL season. He was the Bucs’ leader in sacks a season ago with seven, but there’s actually less pressure on him this time around because of who else is in the lineup.

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

“Having those group of guys that we have on the defensive line, it’s going to help out a lot,” Diaby said while joining the Pewter Report Podcast. “It’s going to take some of the load off of me. But at the end of the day, my goal is to help this team the best way I can but by doing that is getting to the quarterback and getting more sacks, so I got to do my part.”

Yaya Diaby Gets Bold About The 2026 Bucs

The Bucs had a clear initiative to rebuild the defensive line this offseason. They signed A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches while drafting DeMonte Capehart on Day 3. Outside linebacker was addressed too with the signing of Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency and the selection of Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. There’s been an attitude shift that was felt in OTAs and during the mandatory mini-camp. That’s what needs to be brought over to training camp next week.

“Having guys like A’Shawn and Nacho and those hot-head guys, it’s just going to help the D-line out so, so much more,” Yaya Diaby said. “There were times in OTAs when Nacho, he’ll just be like, ‘Yaya, you know who you are! You’re a dawg! Come on, you know who you are!’ It’s just stuff like that that I know it’s going to help everybody on the D-line.

“I know we’re going to go back and forth with our O-line and our whole team, but at the end of the day, it’s just not Bucs versus Bucs when it comes to Week 1,” Diaby said. “It’s Bucs versus Cincinnati, so we’ve got to do whatever we can do to prepare ourselves to be healthy and be ready for Week 1.”

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

Staying healthy was one of the top things on Diaby’s mind heading into this season, but not just for him. He means the whole team. As long as they can keep it together, Diaby has his sights set on more than just winning the division again.

“Guys getting injured – that’s what I keep harping on, guys staying healthy,” Diaby said. “We just need everybody to stay healthy because this team is a dangerous team, I’m telling you guys. Just the guys working out that I see in the offseason, guys are hungry and guys are ready to take that next step. We don’t just want to re-take our spot in the division, we want to keep going and get to that Super Bowl.”

Can The Bucs Reach 50 Sacks?

Yaya Diaby has some other personal and team goals as well. Some individual accolades would be nice, and he knows what needs to be done in order to achieve them.

“I definitely want to be an All-Pro and (make a) Pro Bowl,” Diaby said. “But the only way I can do that is to get into double-digit sacks and creating havoc. It’s going start with the double digits and the rest will take care of itself.”

Head coach Todd Bowles typically sets a goal of generating 50 sacks by the defense each season. The Bucs had their fewest amount under Bowles with 37 last season, so there’s a lot of ground to make up for this year.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Not only does Diaby think they’re going to reach the 50 mark, he believes they’re going to go well beyond that number. He credits his good friend and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey for why they can do it.

“Yep, I believe this is the year that we’re going to hit that 50,” Diaby said. “It might be even more. We’re going to take it one game at a time. I know it’s going to be a rush to get to the quarterback with all the new guys we got in and guys like Calijah [Kancey]. I know he’s super hungry. That’s my dawg, all I want is success for him and I want him to be able to play all 17 games. I know he’s going to do numbers and we’re going to do numbers together.”

Diaby spent over half an hour on the latest Pewter Report Podcast. Check out the whole episode and subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.