Bucs Pick Up Calijah Kancey’s Fifth-Year Option
April 27th, 2026
Bucs show faith in oft-injured defensive tackle.
UPDATED: It appears Calijah Kancey, healthy or hurt, will be with the Bucs in 2027.
The Bucs today picked up Kancey’s fifth-year option. That ties him to Tampa Bay in 2027 unless the Bucs really want to wash their hands of him, which seems unlikely. CBS Sports projects the salary at $14.5 million and it’s a guaranteed option.
Last year was pretty much a wash for Kancey, which really hurt the Bucs. He got injured against Houston in Week 2 and didn’t return until the final game of the season. He had no sacks.
The 2023 first-round pick has been plagued by injuries since he came into the league. He missed four games and most of a fifth to start the season in 2023, a calf injury he suffered early in training camp.
Another calf injury sidelined Kancey for the first five games of 2024. He played in 11 of the next 12 games that season, recording 7.5 sacks and looked like he was on his way to becoming a stud.
Then, last year he tore a pec muscle at Houston.
When Kancey can stay on the field, Joe thinks he’s a damn good player.
April 27th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
easy decision….
GO BUCS!!!!
April 27th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
I think it’s stupid. If he is injury prone give him half a year to prove it. Mid-season extensions are common.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
I was high on this guy but his body can’t handle the grind of the NFL.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
Well, no s%*#.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Anyone who thinks this was a bad move is literally retarded.
Literally.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Hopefully he’ll have a new HC and DC in 2027.
We are stuck in reverse with Bowles until then.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Maybe he can play 3 games in a row in a contract year.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
Buster Kancey getting ready for training room season. He’s getting fitted for a boot next week so they needed that extension done pronto!
April 27th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
He came back last season with noticeably bigger legs.
When his pectoral muscle was healing, he was working on his legs.
And it showed. He put on at least 7 pounds of lower body weight.
That’s why the Panthers only ran for 17 yards in the last game of the year.
Why? Because Vea and Kancey are one of the nastiest DT duos in the NFL.
Thankfully, finally, after 3 years with Sideshow Logan Hall will no longer be our DE. (Gholston was the Man) Still is.
Finally we put some beasts at DE next to Vea.
Robinson, Elijah Roberts, and Capeheart are ALL tougher than Sideshow Logan Hall.
Finally, we will have a solid DE like Gholston.
I have never liked Hall. He always looked soft to me. Like JTS.
NFL Body. But weak.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
When a guy shows you that he is elite when on the field, you pick up the option. Simple.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
What’s the over/under on the date he first winds up on the injury report? Should we have a pool on which will be the first regular-season game he misses?
April 27th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Diaby, Bain, Vita Vea, A’Shawn Robinson, and Calijah Kancey
+ E Roberts, Hall, the new kid from clemson,
Best starting 5 and D line overall since I became a Bucs fan again!
Is it possible we’ll be top 5 against the run – top 10 overall defense ? Definitely!
Got to figure out the backend but our D front looks GREATLY improved this year 💪🏼🏈
April 27th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
I think there is a set date Bucs had to do this by
April 27th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
Licht never saw an option on one of his draft choices that he didn’t pick up. He gave JTS 5 years. Hope the kid can stay on the field.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Munch coming in with that eloquent vocabulary again, bravo!
April 27th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
The guy has had some unfortunate injuries. When he’s on the field, the Buvs defense is completely different.
You put this guy on the line w Vita, Robinson, YaYa and Bain..look out!
Praying he can stay healthy this year.
This was a no brainer.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
14 million dollars for what?
That’s a lot of cheddar.
Dude can retire of that before he’s 30…again for what?
April 27th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
I’m not sure about this one. It makes sense though. They didn’t get anyone in the draft that could compete for his spot.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
why not ? Fred-Flintstone-doppelgänger Jason Licht botched the 2021 draft then decided to extend McCollum and Kieft – maybe Kancey will pop this year and get some of the egg off Jason’s face – worth a shot – although Licht is an embarrassment to the Bucs organization he feels no shame – his job is less “evaluating and developing football talent” and more “gaslighting fans and covering for Todd Bowles”
April 27th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Just in case he bounces back like GMC, you want to look back on this like “we never lost faith in his ability”.
Vea
Robinson
Kancey
Capehart
Roberts
Nacho
Simmons on the PS
AQM & Bain can take snaps on the interior also.
Looking good so far, they’ll all look even better if we can stay healthy long term
April 27th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
I don’t know if I would label him injury prone. A lot of it seems like bad luck. Two calf strains on each calf in two consecutive years is really weird. And then a torn pec? How often does that happen? This guy isn’t having knee lig tears or ankle issues & there are no torn achilles tendons here. This is all muscle stuff which happens to never be the same one twice. It’s not like he’s Mike Evans with a hammy issue every single season.
I bet he plays a lot of games this year. It seems like his moment and he plays 90% of the games and has a healthy Bain in Vita on the line with him, we will all be happy campers!
All I ask for this defense health wise is to have Kancey (cuz we know that he can do) and Walker (cuz we want to see what he can do) be healthy for a huge chunk of 2026 (and the 2027 playoffs, sorry to you negators but I’m going to be optimistic).
April 27th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
If he stays healthy, along with everything we just revamped/added … this Defense can be ruthless .. even w young CBs (had them in SB too)
April 27th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
12 sacks this season I’m calling it
April 27th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
I am fine with this but they have showed a lot more patience with him than they did with Davis and Dean.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
So if he is injured most of 2026 and the Bucs release him he will still count 14.5 mil against the 2027 cap? If that is the case, the it was a very bad decision. But if not the case, then fine.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
They bout had to. Not much other choice. He can play when in there. $14-MIL is worth it. Can’t let him go for NOTHING. He’s a definite trade-deadline’ move this upcoming mid season. I hope he ‘balls-out’ and has great value… If so, you might decide to extend him. We need as MANY 2027-Picks as possible, though. The ‘higher’ the better. The thing that really shocked me was the number the Ravens had to cough up for Zay Flowers 5th-year… OVER $27-MILLION. That’s CRAZY!!!! Prob makes HIM a Top-10 PAID WR!? Absolutely, INSANE. These BS Pro-Bowls nowadays, should NOT count. ONLY ALL-PRO’s. Hell, we better HOPE that EE doesn’t get lucky by getting in there as some alternate or something. Cause, that’s just ridiculous.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Meh. Licht doing Licht things. With unlimited job security…no worries.
Next up: Mayfield extension.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Would anyone else even give that much for ZAY FLOWERS!? $27+MILLION!? I don’t think so!? If not, then the Ravens really got SCREWED. Cause, that doesn’t sound-like any “deal” to me.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
April 27th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Would anyone else even give that much for ZAY FLOWERS!? $27+MILLION!? I don’t think so!? If not, then the Ravens really got SCREWED. Cause, that doesn’t sound-like any “deal” to me.
———–
That’s what even middle of the road starting receivers make now. Part of the reason why the morons complaining about Godwin getting $20M are particularly stupid. They think the cap is still what it was in 2015.
But Flowers had over 1200 yards last year, and two 1000-yard seasons in a row. Not sure he’d have those numbers on a team with better talent at WR, but $27M is probably on the cheaper end of what he’d get on a multi-year deal right now. With that said, I’d pick up his 5th year option, but wouldn’t sign him to a longer term deal if I was the Ravens, not yet anyways, not when he’d want a salary probably in the mid-30s.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Now that he’s signed, what are the Bucs and Kancey going to do about these soft tissue injuries? I don’t know enough to say whether the calf strains are preventable by smarter training or not?
What about the torn pec? I know Vita had this at some point in his career too. Preventable?
April 27th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
It’s is remarkable to me how many low IQ takes on football we have around here. Kancey is easily the best pass rusher on the team, a star in the making, and a 5th year to his rookie deal was always a no-brainer. The fact people even brought it up like the Bucs might let their best pass rusher walk on the cheap was always nonsense.
Kancey just needs to stay healthy, and he’s a true difference maker, a future all-pro (which means something, unlike pro-bowler which is completely meaningless now).
April 27th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
Worse and worse we go.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
Rod Munch … ‘Anyone who thinks this was a bad move is literally retarded. Literally’.
Well, I guess I’m literally retarded Rod, because I think that was an unnecessary and costly move. Bucs played 54 games (including playoffs) in Kancey’s 3 years here, and he missed 22 of those, for an availability of only 59.3%. He’s got a lot of talent IMO, but that doesn’t mean diddly if he can’t help the team on the field. For reference BTW, Jamel Dean was constantly chastised for being injured, yet he played in 105 games out of the 127 we played (including playoffs) in his 7 years here … an availability of 82.7%. Seems to me that 59.3% is quite a bit lower, but then again, I’m literally retarded.
Kancey’s 5th year option supposedly will cost us $14.7 mil. That’s cheap IF he stays healthy for 2026 & 2027, but very costly if he doesn’t. Bucs have some really big FA decisions coming up in 2027 just on defense (Vea, Robinson, RNR, Rozeboom, Diaby, Muhammad, Nelson, plus several others), not to mention some biggies on offense (like Mayfield & several others) & on S/Ts (like McLaughlin & Dixon).
April 27th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
Worse and and then gets awful. Disaster incoming.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
The last 1st round disaster. After Jts. Now comes shorty arms. This is just pathetic.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
Hey Defense….They would have to admit they F’d Up. Getmthe drift.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
Defense Rules Says:
April 27th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
Rod Munch … ‘Anyone who thinks this was a bad move is literally retarded. Literally’.
Well, I guess I’m literally retarded Rod, because I think that was an unnecessary and costly move.
———
So you think we should give up the teams best pass rusher, on a rookie deal, because he got hurt.
Yeah, that’s just flat out beyond stupid, and way beneath you DR.
Get back to me next year at this time – save this thread, set a reminder.
Kancey is a beast, a future all-pro.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Grover you will have your lips all over Bains nuts when he gets 10 sacks
You are such a fake fan
April 27th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
I set the reminder my self, one year from now we’ll see who was right on Kancey.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Oh and Rod, I’ve been convinced for 3 years that Kancey keeps getting hurt because he has no business playing that far inside. Put him out at DE and he can survive, but inside? Sorry but 280 lbs & only 6′ against some of these 6’6″, 320-330 lb monsters invites getting him hurt.
I can see him on the line if we’re going heavy in the middle (Vea, Robinson and/or Capehart PLUS Kancey out as a DE) with Diaby (6’4″ & 270 lbs) & Bain (6’2″ & 263 lbs) as our OLBs. But Kancey’s the lightweight of the group when you take his height into account.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
A healthy Kancey is a monster for us. This is a no-brainer deal.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Good move kancey and bain are going to be a problem next season
April 27th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
The Baltimore Ravens are getting a lot of value with Zay Flowers
This is the final year of his rookie deal, and his option is $27-28 million
He should be making $30-35 million per minimum
April 27th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Don’t worry KABucs, it’s cool to be optimistic before the season starts. I am guardedly optimistic too but last year wasn’t one of those seasons. Alot of stock and money was put on Reddick who hadn’t proved a thing in two years. But when Kancy went out I knew things were going to get worse and they did. The Bucs seem to be a little more formidable up front this season. Last year they hardly did a thing to upgrade the defense and the pass rush besides overpaying the bum Reddick and as I warned everyone in the preseason that would bite them in the ass in the regular season, and it did.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Rod Says: “That’s what even middle of the road starting receivers make now. Part of the reason why the morons complaining about Godwin getting $20M are particularly stupid. They think the cap is still what it was in 2015.”
I agreed two years ago about the $20+MIL talk about Chris Godwin (pre injury), and used to tell people this all the time, and about the salary cap and WR market overall. BUT, might wanna take a look at that list again, cause last time I did Jaylen Waddle was in the Top-10 at around $28-MIL. NONE of those are “middle of the road” WR’s. Though, I always felt that the Dolphins waaayyy overpaid for him and that it was a bad contract. He was listed either “Probable, Doubtful, or OUT” every week for at least 2+YEARS. If not for most of his entire career. And, I didn’t think he was anywhere even close to being a “Top-10” WR to begin with, because of it. But, ZAY FLOWERS Rod… Over $27-MIL!? COME ON.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
Seems awfully ‘stiff’ to me.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
As always, DR acting as the CFO of our team. Somebody has to be the grown up in the room, Rod. So there’s that. But there’s also this. And this is that Calijah Kancey is my second favorite person on the defense (next to Vita) to watch. And DR, you use measurements, like height, to a fault. Anyway. Wouldn’t it be fun if he stays healthy this season?
April 27th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
April 27th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
As always, DR acting as the CFO of our team. Somebody has to be the grown up in the room, Rod.
———
DR, you’re getting props from the Baker Boi(s) – the kings or moronic football opinions. This, more than anything, should make you reevaluate things.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Defense Rules Says:
April 27th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Oh and Rod, I’ve been convinced for 3 years that Kancey keeps getting hurt because he has no business playing that far inside. Put him out at DE and he can survive, but inside? Sorry but 280 lbs & only 6′ against some of these 6’6″, 320-330 lb monsters invites getting him hurt.
———-
See Aaron Donald.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
I like the move. He’s a stud on the field. Which obviously is the problem. Missing 4 games a season isn’t terrible for his position. They take a beating. Last year was a blow with the pec injury. He came back hungry in that last game and that showed he had bin training thru the injury. Shows he’s committed. Good move JL
April 27th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
His 1st 2 season were unlucky Calf injuries right at the end of Camp which held him out the beginning of each season but both year when he came back he played the rest of the way including playoffs until last year he Had a Serious Pectoral injury week 2 which sucks but he caught his way back an played in the last game an Bucs won when Kancey plays the Bucs Win Alot more last year Bucs were 3-0.whem he played he is our Best DT yes I believe at this point of there careers he is better then Vita which is not a knock on Vita because he is great but Kancey just Gives the Bucs so much more Quickness an Pass Rush production he has 7.5 sacks his 2nd season last year I believe he would have had 10 plus sacks this year this Defense will give Offenses major problems You have to Double VITA then you have Kancey Bain an Yaya all 1 on 1 an you know what you can even Use Walker or AQM as Edge Bain an Kam ey as DT an Yaya as other edge Or Walker edge AQM Bain Kancey In the middle an Yaya on the Edge wow That front is going to be Serious You can Add Vita for AQM who has 11 Sacks last year btw this front 7 is Night an Day better then last year Robinson Nacho Vita Capehart an I bet Simmons makes the PS them you have Bain Yaya Walker AQM on the Edge I can’t wait to see this Front in Action This year They will have a Mean streak to them this year An the Camp Battles this year Hands down to Jason he is Creating competition an that brings the best out of Guys he’s not gifting Jobs to people The Starting LB battle to start next to Anzalone is going to be good the Edge Battle Between Walker am AQM An The DT Depth is Serious as well then you got the Corner battles between BMo an Parrish an Zyon might be in the mix I want the Neat 2 Starting IDC then you have the Nickle battle with Scott an Prolly JJ Roberts who will Cross train as Nickle am Safety Wisdom.Playyed some Nickle last year in preseason am I bet Todd takes. Look at him there as well then you got the WR Battle With Tez an Hurst When I think all 5 of our WRs.get Snaps all year I believe they will use guys in all different Combos The Back up Swing Tackle With Chuk an Skule an the Back up Guard Battle with Freeney Haggard Our draft pick Klien.am I’m sure there will someone else I do think the Bucs need to Get a True Back up Center who can play Guard or a Guard who can play center as a back up Besides Bredeson I think Bredeson played Center better then Barton last year but idk if that’s because his development was thrown off with the LT Move for Couple games but Barton needs to Have a Big year this year or it’s time to Move him to Swing Tackle or Guard an see how he does but we know he can play back up LT But I’m going on an on im just excited about all the Competition Japan am the Staff have Created an Iron sharpens Iron Bucs Back up TE will be fun to Culp Sharpe KP I think Payne is Safe but if those 3 guys have way better camps then Payne then maybe not I just really like Paynes Size which should be used more in the Redzone or Culps Speed against LBs an Safety’s with his Size so this is the most excited I have been about Camp in a long time the Depth is vastly improved an I’m hoping since the depth is better that makes our ST Alot better
April 27th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Bottom-line is we have to move EVERY possible piece with value that we can before this next trade-deadline. Need to clear as much salary cap and pick up as MANY 2027 (and 2028) ‘Picks’ that we possibly CAN for our next HC and GM. Total Rebuild. None of this sitting there at 2-5 and hoping to make a late season run in order to save Lickt & Bowles jobs. CanNOT afford to do ANY of that, and then completely WASTE our opportunity, forever. As long as they are healthy, we should have PLENTY of players to move off of that contenders could use.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
I agree KA, if we stay healthy we could be real good up front.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
@ Munch Says: “$27M is probably on the cheaper end of what he’d get on a multi-year deal right now. With that said, I’d pick up his 5th year option, but wouldn’t sign him to a longer term deal if I was the Ravens, not yet anyways, not when he’d want a salary probably in the mid-30s.”
Well, YEAH! They had no other choice. They had to. They’ve got him for at least two more seasons (plus one or two more on the tag), before they have to worry about any longterm deals. Though, IF they and Lamar really like him (like they really appear to), then they should look at trying to extend him longterm at the end of the season. Which I’m sure they will. $27-MIL is still A LOT right now! Idk what his 2026 salary is!? I am NOT a fan of these fixed slotted amounts for a friggin PRO-BOWL.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:50 pm
There are only barely a handful of WR’s I’m giving $35+MIL per to.
April 27th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch –+ You are Exactly right in what you said an I agree Simmons will make the PS he act hadna decent rookie season for the Bucs being picked up of someone PS am having no off-season with the Bucs he was learning on the fly Give him an full.offseason he will be Good I believe he can certainly eat up double teams an plug holes to stop the Run Also can’t wait to see What David Walker Is Healthy very excited to have him
April 27th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Healthy OLine. With depth. Check. Healthy receivers. With depth. Check. Stronger front 7 on the defense. With depth. Check. Better Special Teams play. Checkmate. We’re gonna win the Super Bowl I’m pretty sure.
April 27th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
He’s tiny, and will always be on IR.
Just like I said, right after we drafted him.
He hasn’t been to enough games to qualify as a season ticket holder.
Hes averaged 9.3 games per yer. Seasons are 17 games. Plus we went to the playoffs 2 of his 3 seasons.
There are players on other teams, who have played almost that many games at the RayJAY
With genius level decisions like that, no wonder our defense is a comedy.
April 27th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
@MelvinJunior – I agree with you on the rebuild but it ain’t gonna happen –
self-preservation is paramount with the GM and HC, winning be damned – they would much rather keep their jobs with a mediocre Bucs team than set up a successor for future success – typical corporate BS
April 27th, 2026 at 7:15 pm
Not picking up his 5th year option doesn’t mean you’re losing him. He becomes a FA. Unless Kancey blows up this year, no team would pay him that. What’s wrong with letting him earn his money? Why does Licht pay players when they’re in a prove it year? See Zyon.
April 27th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Rod Munch … ‘See Aaron Donald’.
You’re not seriously comparing Calijah Kancey to Aaron Donald I hope Rod.
Donald missed ZERO games in his first 3 years. Kancey missed 22 games in his first 3 years.
Donald had 28 sacks, 81 QB hits, 57 TFLs, 4 FFs & 164 tackles (118 solo) in his first 3 yrs. Kancey got 11.5 sacks, 30 QB hits, 22 TFLs, 1 FF & 55 tackles (42 solo) in his first 3 yrs.
And oh ya, Aaron Donald was just getting warmed up. Over the next 3 years, Donald logged 44 sacks, 92 QB hits, 60 TFLs, 11 FF & 148 tackles (102 solo). And over those first 6 years he only missed TWO games, so availability was never really an issue.
So what is it about Aaron Donald that you wanted to tell us all Rod? Maybe that Aaron & Calijah are just about exactly the same height & weight? Newsflash Rod: the comparison stops there.
April 27th, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Defense Rules Says:
April 27th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Rod Munch … ‘See Aaron Donald’.
You’re not seriously comparing Calijah Kancey to Aaron Donald I hope Rod.
———-
You said no one can play at 280lbs on the interior d-line and stay healthy. I was pointing out the best player of his generation on the defensive line was literally a 280lb DT (well most of the time he played inside the tackles).