“He’ll Say Something That Needs To Be Said”
April 11th, 2026
Calijah Kancey
Is it pure coincidence that the Bucs are 10-5 when defensive tackle Calijah Kancey starts a regular season game over the past two seasons?
Joe doesn’t think so. Kancey is a problem for offenses. He has elite explosion off the ball. The Bucs’ problem is Kancey only started those 15 games and missed 19 in the same time frame.
Late last season, Kancey returned from his pectoral tear to play in Week 18. He didn’t just play pretty well in his 28 snaps after three-plus months on the shelf, he was a force off the field.
Last year, Todd Bowles said he thinks Kancey could be the next locker room and on-field force of the Bucs defense. Last week at the NFC Coaches Breakfast in Phoenix (no, Joe didn’t lock hands with anyone), Joe asked the head coach if he still feels that way about Kancey.
“I absolutely feel that way, just the way he practices, and the way he works and the way he cares about the game,” Bowles said. “He doesn’t care that he’s one of the younger guys. He’ll say something that needs to be said. And when he came back toward the end of the year, he kind of carried us through that last week of practice and the Carolina game. And you could see the leadership qualities growing in him.”
One thing Joe walked away from Phoenix with after several conversations was that Kancey and Tykee Smith are hungry to be the alpha dogs of the Bucs defense. And they’ll have a more in-your-face way than Lavonte David did when it came to addressing situations and teammates 1-on-1.
Joe’s not saying that’s better or good, just that change is coming to the defense in ways beyond jersey names and assistant coaches
April 11th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
I just hope he can stay healthy. Availability has been the only problem with him. Hope Walker can finally show us what he has this year also.
April 11th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
Kancey is squarely in the Hope category of footballā¦
April 11th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
It would be a blessing to get 10-12 games from Kancey
April 11th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Yeah if we trade him at the deadline for a 2nd next year. Tub warrior. Almost a good draft pick.
April 11th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Sorry Lakeland, but my standard for DTs is Ndamukong Suh. Only missed 2 games in his 13-year career, and only missed those because the NFL suspended him 2 games for stomping on another player’s right arm. Apparently stomping is a no-no.
Still, I love guys who play with fire, and who do it every single game, not just once in awhile. THAT’s a beast, and THAT was Suh.
April 11th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
I donāt know why everyone states Kancey is elite and his only issue is staying healthy.
Does he have a quick first step? Yes.
But heās a total liability in the run game.
In his 3 games last season: 0 sacks, 1 tackle
Heās a pass rushing specialist, yet ranks 58th among DTs in pass rushing, per PFF
April 11th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Oh and BTW, Kayden McDonald reminds me an awful lot of Ndamukong Suh. IF he’s still there at #15, I really hope that JL drafts him & doesn’t try to outthink it. He’s the beast we need.
April 11th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
No coincidence. He shows up for the easy games.
April 11th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
So put him in there..
April 11th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
The Kancey roll of the dice to be the next Aaron Donald hasn’t panned out. The guy just doesn’t have the physical build to be a full time NFL player.
We need guys that are game changers at DT, Edge, ILB. DT’s set the tone for the game. My guy was Alan Page. Hard to look past Joe Green, Bob Lilly, Merlin Olsen. Bunch more from that era. I loved Sapp. Wanted Suh over McCoy but got him eventually. Vita has been great, but his run is winding down.
I’d be all in on McDonald RD1. Lee Hunter RD2. Have to figure out how to get one of those guys and ILB Rodriguez. Really no feel for the Edge. Meisedor at 25 bugs me. Faulk is a project. Jason and Bowles need to figure that out.
Hit on those three spots and the D starts to look a whole lot better with some of the depth we’ve added in FA so far. CB still needs work. Really need Sonny Weaver to work his magic.
April 11th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
I so want him to succeed. Now. He can be a big problem for other teams.
April 11th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
FrontFour Says:
April 11th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
The Kancey roll of the dice to be the next Aaron Donald hasnāt panned out. The guy just doesnāt have the physical build to be a full time NFL player.
__________
Big guys get hurt to.
GMC ring a bell?
April 11th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Joe, Google ā coach speakā. When you ask a coach a closed ended question, what do you think he would say? ā Nah, Kancey sucksāā¦.
April 11th, 2026 at 6:05 pm
Why aren’t all you naysayers employed by an NFL team?
April 11th, 2026 at 6:40 pm
You may be on to something with that 10-5 stat. I’m a bit skeptical though.. I feel like Kancey has proved nothing so far, and really needs to get it together to show he is not a JAG in the NFL. I’m hoping this will be his breakout year. His stats and grades were so good in college.
April 11th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
PFF is wrong about Kancey. Our defense is constantly top 5 in run stopping. Heās not a bad player in the run game- in fact, offenses generally run away from him. I want to see him *penetrate* and get more sacks. Thatās really the main reason he is there. As far as McDonald thereās little evidence he can penetrate and get sacks either! Im starting to think we are set on Jacob Rodriguez and thatās why we want to trade down. Iād be fine with that or Sadiq. Even if we had to reach at 15. He will be a huge difference maker and in a zome defense your LBers better be able to play zone and cover and he has proven he can do that. Would be an upgrade in pass coverage even from David.
April 11th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
*zone
April 11th, 2026 at 7:06 pm
Kancey = Hope. We know what Hope will do for us.
April 11th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Extend Kancey now on a smart contract with incentives that let him cash in based the production he gives – make it worthwhile for him to bet on himself.
A year ago, in 2024, he had 7.5 sacks in 12 games.
Yes, only 12 games is a problem. But, with Kancey, it is like it was with Dean. He may not be on the field. But, if he is on the field, he is the best you have on the field. Until you replace him with someone both more productive and more available, you keep him. And, so far, that better replacement is not on the roster.
Offer him a lower salary with loads of incentives to be on the field and produce with enough guaranteed money to get him to sign now.
For sure don’t low ball him and alienate him the way they did Dean.
April 11th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
I have high hopes for Kancey this year. Tykee was the best player on defense last year. I just ordered a T. Smith Jersey. First one I bought since we drafted Derrick Brooks 30 years ago.
April 11th, 2026 at 8:15 pm
The Bucs probably could trade back as far as 24 with the Browns and add at best an early third round pick, and still draft NT/DT Kayden McDonald in the first.
McDonald will not make it past the Bears, the Bills and the Texans at 25, 26, and 28. The Texans are building their team around guys like McDonald.
Use the second round pick for an ILB – Jacob Rodriguez or Anthony Hill, Jr.
Use the rest for best available at Edge, CB, IOL, tall WR or tall TE.
Just the first two picks are a big step up from last season’s defense. With a healthy Kancey at his best in a contract year, it’s more like a giant leap!
Think CB, situational pass rusher, IOL, and tall WR or receiving TE with the leftovers, and the Bucs look a lot better than last year.
April 11th, 2026 at 8:27 pm
The talent and impact is so obvious. Maybe not every game but heās a young player. If he can stay healthy heās an impact player in the league.
Put on the tape of the Washington playoff loss. If itās Darnold or Stafford back there Kancey has 4 sacks in that game.
He knifed into the backfield immediately no less than 5 times that game. He was instantly in the backfield on Daniels on their GW drive but JD is slippery enough that Kancey kept missing the tackle.
April 11th, 2026 at 8:32 pm
Kancey is clearly a difference maker. Perhaps the new strength and conditioning coach can keep him on the field more. This is a make or break season for him. If he spends any more time on IR, I can’t justify the Bucs re-signing him, as good as he is when he plays.
April 11th, 2026 at 8:35 pm
StPeteMatt … ‘Our defense is constantly top 5 in run stopping.’
Our Run Defense isn’t nearly as good IMO as many make it out to be. And that’s mostly because most folks seem to focus on Rushing Yards Allowed as the measurement of effectiveness, as opposed to viewing that criteria in the context of Rushing ATTEMPTS, but even more importantly Rushing TDs & Rushing YPC Allowed.
The Bucs best Run Defense was 2019 IMO, Todd Bowles very first year as our DC. The Bucs only allowed 1181 rushing yards that season (#1 ranking), as well as only 3.3 YPC average allowed (#1 ranking). Teams ran against us an average of 22.63 times per game that season (#4 ranking) and we gave up 11 TDs (#7 ranking). And yet … our defense ended the year ranked #29 overall (Jameis might’ve had something to do with that?).
Now look at the following years with Todd Bowles as our DC:
o 2020: 1289 yds allowed (#1) – 3.6 YPC (#1) – 22.38 Run Attempts/game (#1) – 10 TDs Allowed (#1) – #8 Defense
o 2021: 1573 yds allowed (#3) – 4.3 YPC (#15) – 21.53 Run Attempts/game (#1) – 11 TDs Allowed (#5) – #5 Defense
o 2022: 2052 yds allowed (#15) – 4.5 YPC (#19) – 26.94 Run Attempts/game (#16) – 12 TDs Allowed (#10) – #13 Defense
o 2023: 1620 yds allowed (#5) – 3.8 YPC (#8) – 24.82 Run Attempts/game (#9) – 11 TDs Allowed (#8) – #7 Defense
o 2024: 1663 yds allowed (#4) – 4.3 YPC (#10) – 22.88 Run Attempts/game (#3) – 13 TDs Allowed (#10) – #16 Defense
o 2025: 1684 yds allowed (#5) – 4.3 YPC (#14) – 23.29 Run Attempts/game (#2) – 16 TDs Allowed (#16) – #20 Defense
Doesn’t take long looking at those stats that the Bucs 2 worst years in Run Defense during Todd Bowles tenure was 2022 and 2025. In 2022 we lost Suh & JPP (and a few others) and our Run Defense went down the tubes. It improved in 2023, but has slid since then. Surrendering 16 Rushing TDs in 2025 was a huge factor in us allowing opponents to score 411 points on the season, the most since 2019 when Jameis threw 30 INTs of which 6 were Pick 6s.
April 11th, 2026 at 9:23 pm
Would You Trade Calijah Kancey (25) to Miami for Zach Sieler (31)?
Miami is rebuilding. Sieler’s 2026 cap hit is $11.4M with zero guaranteed money beyond this season. That contract was structured to be moveable ā and it is.
Since 2023, Sieler is one of two interior linemen in the entire league with 10-plus tackles for loss in three consecutive seasons. Back-to-back double-digit sack years. That’s not a hot streak ā that’s a player who knows how to locate the quarterback through a double team and still finish.
Now look at our situation. Kancey’s 5th-year option is $14.75M guaranteed in 2027. That decision is coming. And the honest case for picking it up rests entirely on 2024 ā one season ā because in 2025 he played two games before a torn pec ended his year. Three seasons in, he’s missed 22 games.
I’m not saying Kancey can’t be good. I’m saying Sieler already is.
The gap between ‘might be’ and ‘has been’ costs real money and real games.
Honestly, would you make the move?
April 11th, 2026 at 9:41 pm
Stats (2025)
* DT A’Shawn Robinson ā 65 tkl (21/44), 2.5 sks, 3 PD, 1 FR | 17 GP
* NT Vita Vea ā 34 tkl (16/18), 4.5 sks, 2 PD, 1 FR | 17 GP
* DT Zach Sieler ā 47 tkl (29/18), 5.5 sks, 1 PD, 10 TFL, 1 FR | 17 GP
* Totals ā 146 tkl, 12.5 sks, 6 PD, 20 TFL, 3 FR | 51 GP
Measurements
* DT A’Shawn Robinson ā 6’3ā ” | 307 lbs | 34Ā½” arms | 10Ā½” hands | 40: 5.20
* NT Vita Vea ā 6’4″ | 347 lbs | 32ā ” arms | 10″ hands | 40: 5.10
* DT Zach Sieler ā 6’5Ā¾” | 288 lbs | 33Ā¾” arms | 10ā ” hands | 40: 4.84
* Averages ā 6’4Ā¼” | 314 lbs | 33ā ” arms | 10ā ” hands | 40: 5.05
April 11th, 2026 at 9:49 pm
They need to draft someone to push him for his spot. They got to have someone ready to go by next year in case it doesnāt work out. Like I said before hope to see Kancey go crazy and light it up this year. He is a dynamic pass rusher.
April 11th, 2026 at 10:20 pm
Im a fan. Gmc barely played his first 2 years. It can be a challenge inside. Maybexde?
April 11th, 2026 at 11:44 pm
Dude is way overrated! Bucs need a leader who actually plays.
April 11th, 2026 at 11:54 pm
“One thing Joe walked away from Phoenix with after several conversations was that Kancey and Tykee Smith are hungry to be the alpha dogs of the Bucs defense.” – Joe
I hope so!
On the topic of staying healthy, these guys need to be capoached by players/former players on how to take care of their bodies. This is why I wish JPP could be added to the coaching staff, even if it is part time. Not only can he advise them on taking care of their bodies (he was a super fast healer), but he is a born leader. David knew how to stay healthy. I’m sure he can help.
I honestly just want healthy production.
Florida has a harsh environment
April 12th, 2026 at 12:49 am
Too bad a player like Kancey has to say the āimportant stuffā because his impotent, incompetent boss is totally incapable and inept.
April 12th, 2026 at 2:45 am
Only a part of the problem with the Bucs giving up so many points and yards last season, but a part that should be acknowledged, were the three and out failures on offense that put the defense back on the field without rest.
Too often this happened at the end of games when mismanaged drives on offense gave the ball back the one more time teams needed to come back and beat the Bucs.
Hopefully, the new OC manages the offensive drives better than last year, or this may be a really miserable season.
April 12th, 2026 at 6:15 am
toopanca. Do you reckon that if the offense wouldāve had Evans, Godwin, JMac, Mauch, Bredeson, Bucky, and Wirfs it may have helped? And it would be nice to see Kancey have a complete season. Especially with another beastly DT or 2.
April 12th, 2026 at 7:29 am
Another overrated Buc defender. He’d be better as a 3 tech in a 4-3 defense, but his real problem has been staying healthy. Banking on hope with him. Would love for the Bucs to come out of this draft with McDonald, or Lee Hunter.
April 12th, 2026 at 11:43 am
JL draft pick. Obviously, you extend him for 5 years at 20 mill+ per year. Whoohoo, party in the tub!
April 12th, 2026 at 10:33 pm
Waste, too small not enough muscle to compensate for lack of size he will continue to get eaten up by blockers. Wasted a 1st on him we all saw that he was too small.
April 12th, 2026 at 11:10 pm
Like I posted here, the week we drafted him.
Hes a midget. Heāll be hurt most of the time, scared all the time.
Heās a wasted pick. His only fast first step is in to the trainers room.
Only thing he knifes into. Is the IR report.
Foolish waste of picks like that,is why our defensive pass rush is a joke.
Anyone who watched our defense last season, and said that Licht was a draft guru, was either his wife or his mother.