“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.