Latest news with #YayaDiaby
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Breaking: Bucs select David Walker with the 121st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
Breaking: Bucs select David Walker with the 121st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft The Bucs had addressed two of their needs on the first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft. On day three, they got started by hitting another. With the 121st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected edge rusher David Walker out of Central Arkansas. The FCS All-American is an explosive pass rusher who will be a welcome addition to the Bucs' pass rush rotation. He will be able to learn behind Yaya Diaby and Haason Reddick while working with Anthony Nelson and others for snaps. Walker thrives using his power to drive through blockers, and he showed that during his time in Mobile, Alabama, for the Senior Bowl in January. He then carried that momentum into the NFL Scouting Combine and has turned himself from a Division-II player to a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Work ethic? Check. Pass rush effectiveness? Check. He will be a fun addition to the Bucs' defense.
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Yaya Diaby believes sack production affected people's opinion of him
Yaya Diaby believes sack production affected people's opinion of him Yaya Diaby is believed to be a potential long-term answer to the Bucs pass-rushing consistency issues they have had in recent years. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2023, he was coming off a nine sack season and then added 7.5 as a rookie for the Bucs. In 2024, however, he only had 4.5 which he cannot be happy with in terms of the box score but it doesn't tell the whole story. Speaking on the Pewter Report Podcast, Diaby acknowledges that the dip in sack production from 2023 to 2024 may have affected how people view him. He says, 'Besides the sack numbers, I feel like I made major growth in every other category. I just want to thank myself and congratulate myself on that part, you know? I know for sure the sack part is going to come.' When people look at defensive player of the year winners, sacks are their go-to statistic. It is why Steelers and Browns fans still argue over whether Myles Garrett or T.J. Watt is the better player. For the Bucs, yeah, they would have liked more production out of Yaya Diaby, but the pressures were being created by him as he compiled 65 of them and had 38 defensive stops. Both of those numbers had him ranked in the top ten across the NFL, according to PFF. Yaya Diaby will be okay, he is going to be a vital part of this defense in 2025. If the team adds more pass rushers after adding Haason Reddick, it will take pressure and attention off him to perhaps increase those sack numbers like he and everyone else would like to see.
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
33rd Team has the Bucs offseason needs down to 4 positions
The NFL Draft and the weeks leading up to it are hectic for fans and teams alike for different reasons. Everyone has an idea of what teams like the Bucs should focus on, and they want to share it. This week, The 33rd Team shared their opinions on every team's draft needs, including the Bucs. They listed the positions of need for the Bucs as edge, guard, safety, and tight end. We have also focused on all of those positions here at Bucs Wire, including wide receiver. The 33rd Team explained their reasoning for these positions as, 'The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are surprisingly solid, largely thanks to hitting on mid-round picks like Yaya Diaby, Zyon McCollum, and Tykee Smith. Chasing after high-upside players across the defense will be the key for a unit preparing to see some starters hit free agency. The 2025 offseason will be about improving an already good team.' What shouldn't be lost on people reading his is everyone recognizes how close this Bucs team is to being a Super Bown contender. The 33rd Team hammers it home, but not many people are. With a strong 2025 class, this team could be making a playoff run a year from now.
