YaYa Diaby
YaYa Diaby  DE  Louisville | NFL Draft 2023 Souting Report - Portrait Image
YaYa Diaby
Height
6-3
Weight
263
College
Louisville
Position
DE/EDGE
Class
Senior
Home town
Atlanta, GA
83.2/100
Player Rating
23
PositionRank (DL)
4.51
FortyYD Time
Sacks
9
Fumbles Forced
Tackles
37
Sol tackles
22

YaYa Diaby DE/EDGE Louisville | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

YaYa Diaby DE/EDGE Louisville
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Last Updated: 04/17/2023
Draft Year: 2023
40 time: 4.51 seconds (98%*)
Age: 24.3 DOB: 05/30/1999
Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl
Measurables:
Height: 6-3 (32%*) Weight: 263 (39%*)
Hands: 10 3/8 (73%*) Arm: 33 7/8 (57%*) Span: 80 4/8 (50%*)
Forty: 4.51 (C) (98%*) Ten Yard: 1.56 (C) (94%*)
Vertical: 37 (C) (88%*) Broad: 120 (C) (77%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
*Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance).
Last Updated: 04/17/2023
Draft Year: 2023
40 time: 4.51 seconds (98%*)
Age: 24.3 DOB: 05/30/1999
Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-3 (32%*) Weight: 263 (39%*)
Hands: 10 3/8 (73%*) Arm: 33 7/8 (57%*)
Span: 80 4/8 (50%*)
Forty: 4.51 (C) (98%*) Shuttle: DNP
10 Yard: 1.56 (C) (94%*)
Vertical: 37 (C) (88%*) Broad: 120 (C) (77%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
*Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance).
Overall Rating: 83.2 / 100
Game performance weighted rating
Tackling:
63%
Pass Rush:
80%
Run Defense:
81%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 4th
Overall Rank: #122 Position rank: #23
College Games: 33 College Snaps: 1126
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 77/100
Grade: 247 Sports 3  Stars 247 Sports 87 Stars 247 RATING: 87/100
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Drafted: ROUND: 3 - Pick Number: 82 (TB)
Draft Profile: Bio
YaYa Diaby wasn't ranked by any scouting services so went the JUCO route and ended up at the Georgia Military College where in addition he made 7 sacks and 20 TFLs. After two years there he joined Louisville after receiving offers from a number of big schools.

In 2020 as a junior Diaby saw action in 8 games and played a total of 245 snaps for the Cardinals. He recorded 13 tackles, 3 assists, while adding 10 stops. As a pass rusher, he added 14 total pressures, which included 14 QB hurries, on the season.

As a senior for the Cardinals in 2021 Diaby played in 13 games and took part in 429 snaps. He recorded 30 tackles, 8 assists, while adding 25 stops. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 22 total pressures, and 18 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and 2 sacks.

In 2022 as a second-year senior Diaby played in 12 games and contributed on 452 snaps. He recorded 14 tackles, 8 assists while making 14 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 31 total pressures, which included 16 QB hurries, 6 QB hits, and an impressive 9 sacks on the year.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • YAYA Diaby is an outstanding athlete who backed up this reported athleticism at the combine where he ran a 4.51 forty and had a 120 Broad jump along with a 37-inch vertical - all elite for the position
  • Made Bruce Feldman's Freak's List - ranked #85. He wrote, "Diaby has emerged as a solid player, making 39 tackles and three TFLs in 2021. The 6-5, 280-pound senior with the 8-1 wingspan can really move for a big man, topping out at 20.8 mph on the GPS. His vertical jump is in the mid-30s and he broad-jumps 9-11. His bench press also is up to 385 pounds."
  • Very strong with impressive raw power - able to win with a dominating bull rush
  • Diaby is a high-motor pass rusher who shows a good feel for countering, and has the functional strength to bounce off tackles and close on the quarterback with second effort.
  • Plays with some good balance and body control, showing off a nasty spin move to counter his speed, with the natural instincts to know when to use it.
  • Diaby explodes off the line with a quick first step, with agile feet to counter inside and closing burst to finish plays.
  • Delivers a strong punch and uses his hands to shed blocks to make plays in the hole or outside the box. Uses lower-body strength to anchor inside.
  • Combines excellent power with initial quickness, but one of his best attributes are his violent hands, which he uses with impressive precision.
  • His long limbs and strong core strength allow him to power through blockers, and he has the flexibility to loop inside and get home on twists.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Despite having two years in junior college and a further three at Louisville he still is a raw player who never has produced in a way you would hope given his athletic ability
  • Never out of a play, but can get out of control and work himself away from the action.
  • Straight line pass rusher - without the change of direction ability to counter. Often if his first move fails so does he
  • Struggles to maintain a square stance when sliding along with blocks
  • Doesn't have a lot of pass-rushing tools beyond speed and pure power
  • Tight lower body means he doesn't look fluid especially when moving laterally
  • At the combine he checked in much lighter than billed - he was 280lbs last year but weighed just 260lbs
  • Plays a little high resulting in him losing leverage battles and giving ground in run defense
  • Can improve his ability to handle double-team challenges
Scouting Report: Summary
There is no doubting YaYa Diaby's athletic ability which is sky-high - he's got the elite speed and power you look for in a pro edge rusher. He, however, after checking in at 260lbs is a bit of a tweener, who doesn't have the experience or the lateral movement skills to play as an OLB and is too small to play as a classic DE.

Despite this his measurables along with decent but not great college production will still be enough to generate demand for his services as a high-upside speed rusher, albeit one who at least early on plays in a situational role.
Expect Diaby to last no longer than the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft and if given the requisite time to develop could become an effective pass rusher at the next level.

YaYa Diaby percentiles vs other Defensive End's (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)

Update - 04/17/2023
YaYa Diaby’s 1.56 10-yard split at 263 lbs was simply ridiculous as was his 4.51 forty. Georgia OLB Nolan Smith’s 1.52 10-yard is highly impressive but he’s 25 lbs lighter. Diaby’s other drills also tested super high - all in the 95th percentile for his position. He earned himself some serious money with that performance!

How other scouting services rate YaYa Diaby (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
112.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
29.0