According to a recent breakdown from Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report, one player from each team was selected as the most underpaid player on their team. Diaby has been identified as Tampa Bay’s most underpaid player on the roster following the conclusion of the first wave of the 2026 free agency period — and it’s not hard to see why.

Bucs’ OLB Yaya Diaby Named As Most Underpaid

Here’s what was said about Diaby:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge YaYa Diaby

“The 2023 third-round pick has generally remained under the national radar while compiling 19 sacks and 47 quarterback hits in three pro seasons. He’ll still count just $3.9 million against the Bucs’ cap in a walk year this fall.”

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: USA Today

Still playing on his rookie contract, Diaby has developed into an important defensive piece on the Bucs. What started as a rotational role as a rookie has turned into a steady, impactful presence on the edge, where his combination of power, motor, and length has made him a problem for opposing offensive lines.

Yaya Diaby Built His Game Back Up

Yaya Diaby has consistently generated pressure, set the edge in the run game, and brought an energy level that stands out on film. For a team that has searched for pass rush consistency, his emergence has been one of the few reliable bright spots.

Maybe Diaby flew under the radar slightly for a couple of reasons. One of them being that his stock was a bit low heading into 2025. When he was a rookie two seasons before, Diaby became a welcomed surprise recording 7.5 sacks while only getting his opportunity halfway through the season.

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

With a lot of excitement for Diaby at the beginning of 2024, it turned into a disappointment as he recorded just 4.5 sacks as an every game starter. Expectations dropped for Diaby last season, but after he picked everything back up, that won’t be the case for the 2026 season. This is the nature of the NFL. When mid-round draft picks outperform expectations, they often become some of the best bargains in the league — at least for a short window. That’s exactly where the Bucs find themselves with Diaby.

Another reason why Diaby’s production has gone unnoticed at times is due to the overall lack of performance by the Bucs defense and their pass rush. During head coach Todd Bowles’ time calling the defensive plays, this most recent season was the worst defense they’ve had by far. Nobody could get home to the quarterback, and the Bucs’ 37 sacks was the fewest under Bowles since he arrived in Tampa.

The big-ticket item in Haason Reddick did not work out. Second round pick Chris Braswell going into year two also didn’t make the jump that the team would have liked. Fourth round pick David Walker suffered a season ending injury in training camp. Nobody else was around except for Diaby, so while he was able to perform, the rest of the group didn’t pick it up.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: USA Today

He’s currently Tampa Bay’s number one edge rusher until further notice, and that makes for an interesting storyline for the 2026 season.

Should Bucs Sign Yaya Diaby To An Extension?

While top-tier edge rushers command massive contracts on the open market, Tampa Bay is getting starting-level production at a fraction of the cost. That kind of value allows the front office to allocate resources elsewhere, whether it’s retaining key veterans or addressing other roster needs.

Sure, Yaya Diaby is underpaid because he’s still on a rookie contract. But he won’t be underpaid for too long. The Bucs may want to consider signing Diaby to a contract extension before his salary expands even more.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photo by: USA Today

If Diaby continues on this trajectory, it won’t be long before his contract becomes a topic of conversation. Teams don’t let productive pass rushers hit the open market — and players don’t stay underpaid forever.

Whether one agrees or not that the Bucs should give Diaby big time pay, the market does dictate it. Edge rushers like Odafe Oweh will get paid $24 million this year, another in Boye Mafe will get $20 million. Oweh’s sack numbers last season was 7.5, just a half sack more than Diaby. Mafe’s number was two. So, if Diaby can match his numbers from a season ago this year, he’ll also get in the $20 million range.

For now, the Bucs are benefiting from one of the better value contracts on their roster. Diaby’s performance has far exceeded expectations, and his role within the defense continues to grow. The label of “most underpaid” isn’t a slight — it’s recognition.

And if Diaby keeps playing well enough, it won’t be long before that label disappears — replaced by a much bigger payday.

To see the whole Bleacher Report article for every team’s player, click the link.