Buccaneers grab DL Calijah Kancey with 1st-round pick

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Pitt interior defensive lineman Calijah Kancey in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 19th overall.

The 6-foot, 281-pounder racked up 91 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks during his tenure at Pitt. He was named a first-team All-ACC member during his sophomore campaign in 2020 after recording 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Kancey, a Miami native, was a candidate for the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophies last season after recording 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

Tampa Bay has used its first draft choice on a defensive player in each of the past three years, selecting Logan Hall last campaign and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in 2021.

Kancey will join a defensive line that features Vita Vea and 2022 second-round pick Hall. Tampa Bay also signed Greg Gaines during free agency.

Pre-draft profile

Kancey is a fascinating prospect. The Pitt standout (no, he's not Aaron Donald) has otherworldly movement skills for an interior defensive lineman, and he makes the most of them with his pass-rush technique. Opposing guards didn't have a chance of matching his lateral agility at the college level, and that would almost certainly be the case in the NFL, too. But position fit is a major question mark here. Kancey's height and weight make him an extreme outlier at defensive tackle. While he's stronger than you might expect at that size and flashes the ability to convert speed to power, it's unrealistic to expect Kancey to hold up against double teams as a run defender against pro competition. His best fit may be as a base end who kicks inside on the most obvious passing downs. Kancey's lack of length will be an issue at both spots, but that athleticism and pass-rush approach will play anywhere. Kancey could be a star in the right system.