Jason Licht Wants YaYa Diaby With Bucs “Long Term”
April 1st, 2026
New deal coming?
The closest thing the Bucs have to a double-digit edge rusher is YaYa Diaby. Therefore, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has no desire to see YaYa pull a Mike Evans and bolt the Bucs for a new chapter.
In YaYa’s rookie year (2023), he had 7.5 sacks. He hasn’t yet matched that but did have 7 sacks last season. Licht doesn’t want to see his homegrown talent leave and is open-minded about expenting YaYa before he has a chance to hit free agency.
“We’ll figure things out,” Licht told Joe and two other scribes at the NFL owners meetings Monday in Arizona. “I’d love to have YaYa here long term.”
Licht believes YaYa is a bit overlooked as a core player.
“He’s a very good young player,” Licht said. Diaby is “probably a little bit underappreciated.
“I think overall, what he’s done, he’s a good young player. We like him a lot.”
The thing Joe likes about YaYa is the guy has heart and drive. And, for the people who value quarterback pressures, YaYa provides that.
Joe has to believe if the Bucs had a monster opposite side YaYa at the other edge rusher, it would help YaYa out because right now offenses know if they take out YaYa, their quarterback could order General Tso’s chicken from the neighborhood Chinese restaurant and not have to worry about getting hit.
April 1st, 2026 at 5:41 am
He’s solid, not great. Don’t pay him like he’s great, pay him like a core player if that’s how you view him. If he needs someone on the otherside to make him better, he’s not the guy. Who we really need to pay is the edge rusher who can make YaYa better. Licht has been unwilling to bring that guy in, and pay him.
April 1st, 2026 at 6:26 am
The announcers rave about Diaby during every game. He is a menace, disrupting what the offense wants to do on virtually every play (unless Bowles drops him into coverage).
The only place he gets no respect is here.
April 1st, 2026 at 6:32 am
Licht likes to pay solid, but not great players, great player money. Godecke, McCollum, Dean, Godwin. That way we’re hamstrung with big backloaded contracts and unable to do anything meaningful to get great players. But, it keeps Licht’s stats up and gives him something to brag about.
April 1st, 2026 at 6:56 am
Dudes with heart and drive don’t always make good to great football players.