Over the years the Bucs have seen many of their players make strides and take the next step forward year to year. Some good examples as of late have been running back Rachaad White and right tackle Luke Goedeke elevating their games to the next level. There’s another player on the horizon that plays defense for the Bucs this time around that might just be the next to have an upgrade, but do it in a way that grabs the attention of all NFL viewers.

Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football and the NFL Network recently came up with his top 10 breakout players for the 2024 season. This was a combination of players entering the league this year and also young and up an comers that have also been in the NFL for a season or two. Coming in all the way at fourth on the list was Bucs outside linebacker Yaya Diaby. This is what Schrager had to say about the Bucs’ edge rusher.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby Picked As A Breakout Star

“I’m going to be saying Yaya Diaby all this season,” Peter Schrager said. “6-foot-3, 270 pounds, 25 years old out of Louisville, friend of the show last year as he had a breakout rookie season. Third round pick, he had 7.5 sacks last year and that led the Buccaneers. What do you do this season? How do you go up this year?

“Here’s my bold take: Yaya Diaby is going to have 15 sacks this season. He might lead the league. Put it in the books, Yaya, one of my favorite players. Calijah Kancey also a draft pick from last year working the inside, Vita Vea  working the inside and of course I got Yaya wearing number zero coming on the outside. I’m loving it.”

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

Watch Schrager discussing Diaby.

There are a lot of factors that point to Diaby taking another step forward and Schrager mentions a couple with his teammates around him. Diaby was a menace in training camp when healthy, constantly getting into the backfield and causing plays to end before they began. But unfortunately, a high ankle strain took him out on the first day of August and he has been sidelined ever since, although he is expected to be ready for Week 1 against Washington.

The other players on the list starting at 10 were Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin, Bears punter Tory Taylor, Bill receiver Khalil Shakir, Raiders edge rusher Malcom Koonce and Giants corner Deonte Banks at six. Rounding out the top five was Lions safety Brian Branch, Diaby at four, Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was the second overall pick in this year’s draft.

High Expectations Coming For Bucs’ Defense

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Yaya Diaby winds up being the top edge rusher mentioned. He could follow a line of historic Bucs’ edge rushers to reach double digit sacks, which includes Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and Simeon Rice. All three have won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay. Considering Diaby’s 7.5 sacks came after he began starting in November, it’s an intriguing thought of what he can do after year of experience and with the chance to start in 17 games.

The Bucs defense should presumably be better this year if it holds up. Any questions about certain positions were addressed this offseason. Strong safety was one of them, so the Bucs went out and signed Jordan Whitehead. Depth at corner was another, so the Bucs made Zyon McCollum a full time starter while Bryce Hall and Tavierre Thomas are quality backups.

Tampa Bay also swapped out Devin White for K.J. Britt, which if anything should lead to more consistency in that area. And at Diaby’s own position of outside linebacker the Bucs spent a second-round pick on Chris Braswell and are also counting on the development of Jose Ramirez and Markees Watts to compliment Diaby on the other side. With everything coming into place, this could be Diaby and the Bucs’ best season yet.