Extending YaYa Diaby
February 13th, 2026
Worthy of extension.
There are more holes in the Bucs defense than a beehive. That doesn’t mean the defense is bereft of talent.
One way to try to fill all the holes is to find decent free agents. The Bucs have pending free agents that beancounters can magically make extra cap space appear — by reworking contracts and extending contracts.
This brings Joe to Bucs outside linebacker YaYa Diaby. He’s entering a contract year this fall. And he’s the closest thing the Bucs have to an edge rusher.
And that’s why Joe’s good friend, NFL humorist/columnist Mike Tanier, thinks it would be very smart of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to extend YaYa, play some games with the cap, and go buy an inside linebacker.
One Thing the Buccaneers Should Do
Extend Yaya Diaby’s contract. Diaby is not an elite edge rusher, but he’s the best the Bucs have, and he’s one of the few youngish players who was getting the job done down the stretch in 2025.
That’s a great point by Tanier. How many of the Bucs’ young players were making an impact in games in December? Not many. YaYa was one of the few. (Yeah, Jacob Parrish did, too.)
So yeah, the Bucs could extend YaYa (if he doesn’t want to test the free agent waters) and the cap space saved could go to an inside linebacker.
February 13th, 2026 at 9:10 am
You aren’t saving cap space by extending a player on his rookie contract. That math doesn’t add up. Whatever Diaby makes in his next contract is going to be significantly higher than what he makes in his slotted pay scale in the 3rd round.
February 13th, 2026 at 9:12 am
Top 5 offense!
That’s all I’m looking forward to.
Because this defense we seen before.
2026 is RINSE AND REPEAT
February 13th, 2026 at 9:15 am
I mean it’s a contract year for him. If he believes in himself he will try to get 10+ sacks and double an extension amount. Maybe munch can explain how baker has caused a stagnation in yaya’s progress?
February 13th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Risk here is overpaying, something that Bucs history speaks for himself….
February 13th, 2026 at 9:36 am
I smell a 4 year 60 million contract from Ring of honor, Bud light and ACDC loving GM Jason Licht
February 13th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Double digit TFLs and two seasons of 7 plus sacks, and very good against the run, all for an extension. All while being the only true pass rusher in the team except for when kanccey actually plays.
.
February 13th, 2026 at 9:46 am
YaYa is worth extending at a reasonable price. Joe you are right, he is the best we have and we can’t affored to lose him. Yes extend him , get a real edge player in free agency, and draft 2 stud linebackers that can cover. I think even Jason has to admit he is lost when it comes to drafting edge players, so Jason, please save the pick and try LB’s or another corner like Parrish. Licht can’t plug all the holes on defense this year, there are way to many to fill. However, an edge rusher and and 2 real LB’s would certainly go a long way.
February 13th, 2026 at 10:03 am
Extend him early. It worked out so well with Zyon. Seriously it would be better to wait. Let the new GM make that call next offseason after Bowles, and Licht are fired.
February 13th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Yaya is not Zyon!!!
I’d definitely extend him early….
He’s got the right attitude but just needs to mature more with his “feel” when it comes to the very end of his pash rush…
He been missing out on quite a few sacks cuz of the end component..
February 13th, 2026 at 10:17 am
i think Ya need to let him play it out and Ya pay a bit more on the next deal. if he has a great year he does and nobody cares a bit about a fatter bag after that.
jason dont need to get zyoned again so soon…..how embarrassing.
February 13th, 2026 at 10:23 am
zzbucs Says:
Risk here is overpaying, something that Bucs history speaks for himself….
———————————————————————————-
There’s a risk EITHER way, by extending a player or not extending the player.
You risk overpaying by extending him early. But you risk paying an extra truckload of cash by not extending that player when you believe he’s about to have a good year.
It’s not an exact science. And yeah, the Bucs have gotten burned by extending players. But I doubt any GM in the league has a perfect record when it comes to handling this situation.
February 13th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Extend him. Hes solid. He’ll be even better with more help on the d line
February 13th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Bucfan1988 knows exactly what YaYa needs to do on his pass rush. lol. Smh.
February 13th, 2026 at 10:51 am
Extend him. He’s closest thing we have at almost sacking the QB!
February 13th, 2026 at 11:04 am
He was one of the few players that played with heart and energy (esp. the final few weeks). Extend him.
February 13th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Dumbest logic ever.
He’s on a 3rd round rookie deal!
We wouldn’t save any money extending him now!
He’s cheap this year!
I want players from Seattle.
I want to inject our defense with the Dark Side!
Sign as many Seattle defenders as you can!
February 13th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Why would we save cap space by extending him? He’s on a rookie contract already?
February 13th, 2026 at 12:45 pm
DO NOT extend him. Actually, I’m not even sure you can extend a rookie contract, so it would mean giving him a whole new contract.
No. Although he had 7 sacks last year, let him prove himself to get his money. If he doesn’t, we can re-sign him cheap for depth next year.
I hate giving out contracts a year early. So many players get the cash and then ease up. YaYa Diaby may or may not be like that, but if he’s on a contract year, let him play it out and prove himself.
It’s great motivation.
February 13th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Pay what you want I guess for just 2-3 plays a game. Better than Buster Kancey at least who makes zero.
February 13th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Jack Burton Mercer Says:
“Pay what you want I guess for just 2-3 plays a game. Better than Buster Kancey at least who makes zero.”
Calijah Kancey had 7.5 sacks his second year. He was out for all but 3 games due to injury last year…so calling him a bust is premature. Technically, this will be his third year of development.
February 13th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
@Jack Burton Mercer says: “better than buster Kancey who makes zero plays./
That’s a ridiculous statement, Hard for Kancey to make plays from the sideline. When he is healthy he is arguably our best pass rusher. His problem has been staying on the field, not production.
February 13th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
“Calijah Kancey had 7.5 sacks his second year. He was out for all but 3 games due to injury last year…so calling him a bust is premature.”
Deja vu all over again. People said the same things about Gerald McCoy
February 13th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
A lot of Bucs fans are obsessed about finding one elite, double digit, edge rusher, despite the two teams that just reached the Super Bowl not having one. The highest number of sacks by a Seahawks player during the regular season was SEVEN, the same number as Yaya Diaby.
February 13th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
He’d be so much better if he could just play DE or EDGE
February 13th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
“A lot of Bucs fans are obsessed about finding one elite, double digit, edge rusher, despite the two teams that just reached the Super Bowl not having one.”
I would much rather having a 5-8 man rotation along the front that acts as a platoon.
Another OLB, and a DT that can 2-gap better than Kancey, but can also spell Vita playing alongside Kancey.
The Simmons kid is 6’1 240, I cold see him being the new Nacho for us and replacing Greg Gaines.
Our ability to apply pressure if we can hit on a FA vet/Rookie DT that can do what we wanted Akiem Hicks to do back in 2022 and be our Tommy Kelly.
A John Franklin-Meyers or, OR Khrysis Tonga in FA
If not, maybe DeMonte Capehart or Caleb Banks in the draft
February 13th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
The dopes who don’t know what they’re watching don’t know how good Yaya is – but if he makes it to FA, he’s going to get paid a lot more than people think. Extend him now, he will only get more expensive.
February 13th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
The genius of Todd’ defense is, anyone can play any position in it, no matter if they’re good or not. It’s results that matter, and Todd’s pass defense has proven itself over the years. The level of confusion is a key attribute to a winning defense.
February 13th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Right NOW he warrants a decent price. If he blows up next season he’ll cost a mint
February 13th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
As burned as I feel by not letting Zyon play his contract year, Diaby is different and we should lock him up to a long-term deal like we did with Vea.
February 13th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Extend? Licht shouldn’t be allowed to do anything more than 1 year deals.
He won’t be here after this year. The Bucs are going to get exposed for lack of talent and the Glazers are gonna clean house. Crappy GMs don’t last 13 years with a .449 losing %.
He gone. They are all dead men walking.
February 13th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Unless I’m mistaken, you can only extend a Rnd 1 pick for a 5th year option. Ya Ya was Rnd 3. Could write him a new contract now, but it doesn’t make any sense to pay him a whole bunch more money for what? Let him play out his 4th year and if he does good, pay him well for it.
February 13th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Ya, because when he goes to another team he’ll be successful. I love BUCS but we’re knowere near what we had with Suh, JPP, Vea and even D. White before he lost his head. I watch every week, highlights, lowlights, but will always love BUCS just like my family before me. Win or lose. But I’m tired of losing. Lame HC that can’t inspire a pee wee team, ownership that can’t/won’t pay for even some washed up pass rusher. JL idk what hand you’ve had in this, but the super frugal approach doesn’t work these days. You gotta make a splash man! Just like you did for JPP!!! Go get aggressive! Even if you gotta fire somebody. Is ownership that cheap/scared they’re holding you back from Tampa Bay having a good Football team!???
February 13th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Did Devon White lose his head or did he just lose any confidence and respect for Todd Bowles?
Bowls ran him out remember
February 13th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
YaYa has shown steady improvement every year.
Unlike a few other players, he didn’t clock out early this year.
I wonder how much better he’d be if we had another solid OLB/edge rusher on the other end of the D line?
Fair enough that we’ve been burned a few times when we extended guys early.
But YaYa is one of those players who’ll absolutely comnand higher numbers at the end of his contract.
Resign him now. Something with incentives versus a ton of guaranteed money.
February 13th, 2026 at 7:41 pm
He is worthy of an Extension not a break the bank extension but. Nice deal for both sides Could get done get Yaya Paid an still team friendly get it done an find the guy who can play across from him An Pray Kancey has a Mo ster season this year an Stays healthy until this year he has fluky injuries right before season an missed 4games to start 1 st 2 years imagine if he didn’t miss 4 games his 2nd year he had 7.5 sacks he would have been over 10 he has that in him this year I like Kancey Alot
February 13th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
Why would he want to stay on this D
February 14th, 2026 at 12:29 am
If he stays work out a contract. He seems to be one of the only people that can make a descent play or plays in a game. Get him some better help too
February 14th, 2026 at 4:17 am
better pay yaya and get him a fellow freakin’ book end already…
before he’s in shacksonville, or a host of other teams that will look to add him to their corps
February 14th, 2026 at 4:18 am
also i expect yaya to have a bit more of a repertoire of moves this year…it’s time…he’s been in the league for a minute now
February 14th, 2026 at 4:23 am
also let me tell you about kancey…
when vita is done, kancey’s gotta go…he’s been too hyped, and too undersized…
all he really is, is an always injured little fish swimming next to the big fish…
when vita washes out, kancey will wash out with him…mark my words
February 14th, 2026 at 4:31 am
atlanta’s prolly already eyeballing yaya…
they’ll want to steal him away from us…to weaken us…
and bring yaya back to georgia with a nice arthur blank contract…
letting him hit free agency is def not the move
February 14th, 2026 at 9:19 am
I remember when Shaq was still on top of his game he became very average when JPP was out. We need another guy at least as good as Yaya
February 16th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
As long as it’s reasonable and he doesn’t over pay him a la Zyon McCollum, Antoine Winfield, etc., I’m fine with it.