The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Proper now, we’re:
61 days away from Bucs common season kickoff31 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff15 days away from Bucs coaching camp
Within the lead-up to coaching camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams shall be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who shall be essential to the Bucs’ success in 2026.
Right this moment, the collection continues with defensive sort out Calijah Kancey.
26 For ‘26: Calijah Kancey Bucs Storylines In 2026
Can Calijah Kancey FINALLY Keep Wholesome In 2026?
Earlier than you bought up to now, you needed to know what the first storyline for Kancey can be heading into 2026, and that’s his well being. It’s been the story of his profession since being the Bucs’ first-round choose within the 2023 Draft. It’s a problem that dates all the way in which again to his first NFL coaching camp, when he suffered a calf damage that value him the remainder of camp and the preseason. Kancey made it again for a short NFL debut in Week 1, however then missed the following three video games after reaggravating that damage.
Kancey went on to play the remainder of Tampa Bay’s video games, ending the yr having performed 14 of a potential 17 video games and 16 of a potential 19 once you embrace the playoffs. He appeared to return again wholesome in 2024, however suffered one other calf damage simply previous to the season. He missed the Bucs’ first 5 video games because of this, leaving him to play 12 out of a potential 17 within the common season and 13 of 18 total.
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Then got here 2025. With the calf points believed to be previously, Kancey was trying ahead to having a wholesome third season within the league — one wherein he’d attain his full potential. However his season was just about over earlier than it began, as he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 and solely simply made it again for Week 18. Make that 3 of a potential 17 video games performed.
Getting into his fourth yr, Kancey has performed in 29 common season video games whereas lacking 22 to date in his three seasons with the Bucs. That’s an issue, clearly. When he’s been on the sector, the younger defensive sort out has appeared like each little bit of the participant Tampa Bay thought it was getting when it took him with the No. 19 total choose again in 2023. However he hasn’t been on the sector sufficient.
That makes the 2026 season so necessary for Kancey. The 25-year-old already had his fifth-year possibility picked up for the 2027 season, however one other injury-plagued season this yr and he’ll face lengthy odds in terms of incomes a brand new contract in Tampa Bay past subsequent season. On the very least, one other season wherein he misses a major chunk of time will solely work in opposition to him when it comes time to barter on a brand new deal — whether or not with the Bucs or elsewhere.
What’s Calijah Kancey’s True Ceiling — And Can He Attain It In 2026?
The weird actuality of Kancey’s profession to date is that we really haven’t had an opportunity to search out out what his actual ceiling is. A giant a part of that comes all the way down to the truth that he has missed 22 video games over three years. What can he do in a full season? Nobody is aware of but as a result of sadly, nobody has seen it on the NFL stage.
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Kancey was daring sufficient to go on the document final April and say that if he may keep wholesome for the complete 2025 season, he could lead on the league in sacks. As a substitute, he performed in simply three video games and was held with out a sack.
Kancey could have gone a little bit far in his projection for what he may do with a full 17 video games. However hey, self-belief may be highly effective. Nonetheless, it’s laborious to think about his ceiling being anyplace near the league-leading and NFL single-season document 23 sacks Myles Garrett totaled final yr. Even in 2024, Trey Hendrickson’s 17.5 sacks led the league, and it’s laborious to see Kancey rivaling that quantity from his inside spot.
Nonetheless, Kancey’s profession excessive sack whole was the 7.5 he had over the 12 video games he performed in 2024. He had 39 whole pressures over these 12 video games after posting 34 in his 14-game rookie marketing campaign. He will get after the quarterback with the perfect of them, with elite quickness and athleticism. It actually looks like there’s double-digit sack potential in him if he can simply handle to remain wholesome for 17 video games — and even 15?
Kancey could have loads of assist round him in 2026, too. He’s clearly benefitted from taking part in subsequent to Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby all through his profession, however having A’Shawn Robinson as the opposite defensive sort out and getting extra off the sting from Diaby, first-round choose Rueben Bain Jr., Al-Quadin Muhammad and David Walker ought to create extra alternatives for him on the inside this yr. He has the flexibility and expertise wanted to make the most of it.
He. Simply. Has. To. Keep. Wholesome.
Will Calijah Kancey Place Himself For An Early Extension Forward Of 2027?
As soon as once more, this all hinges on whether or not Kancey can keep wholesome. As talked about above, his fifth-year possibility was already picked up by the Bucs, so he’s signed via the 2027 season and received’t hit free company till March of 2028. However this season may nonetheless play a job in deciding the disruptive defensive sort out’s long-term future.
If Kancey can’t make it via the 2026 season wholesome, it’ll put a complete lot of stress on his 2027 season. As a result of earlier than Tampa Bay inks him to a second contract, it’ll absolutely need to see its 2023 first-round choose make it via a full yr not less than as soon as, proper? It’s laborious to justify doling out huge cash to a man who misses as many video games as he performs in, isn’t it?
With that in thoughts, may one other injury-plagued season for Kancey in 2026 formally take him out of consideration for an early contract extension subsequent offseason? Keep in mind, the Bucs inked Tristan Wirfs to a big-time contract earlier than he ever performed on the fifth-year possibility of his rookie contract. The workforce additionally signed Luke Goedeke and Zyon McCollum to their second contracts earlier than they performed out the ultimate yr of their rookie offers.
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
It might be laborious to reward Kancey early if he’s gone via 4 seasons with out a wholesome one. And if he lastly does have a wholesome yr in 12 months 5, the negotiations on his subsequent contract might be fascinating. As a result of even then, a five-year physique of labor with just one absolutely wholesome season may work in opposition to him as he and his camp argue his worth.
What’s can be working in Kancey’s favor is his play on the sector, sure, but in addition his youth. Although he missed 22 video games over his first three years, these have been his age-22, age-23 and age-24 seasons. Proper now, he would solely be 27 when he hits free company, which is correct there on the cusp of his prime.
It’ll be fascinating to observe. The best end result for all events can be Kancey making his damage points a factor of the previous and producing at a excessive stage in 2026. That approach, he could make a greater case for his subsequent contract and perhaps land an early extension. And for the Bucs, it might give them a clearer image of their plans for the long run and whether or not together with Kancey in these plans ought to a lock or if there’s extra sense in holding off.
Catch Up On Earlier Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Sequence
OFFENSE:
Baker MayfieldBucky IrvingKenny GainwellChris Godwin Jr.Emeka EgbukaJalen McMillanCade OttonTristan WirfsBen BredesonGraham BartonCody MauchLuke Goedeke
DEFENSE:
Yaya DiabyRueben Bain Jr.A’Shawn Robinson
