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Buccaneers 1st-Round Pick Calijah Kancey Receives Huge Comparison

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a tough spot heading into the 2023 season. They have to navigate life after Tom Brady, who announced his retirement earlier this offseason. With an older, capped-out roster, it is hard to envision the Buccaneers making much noise this season after an underwhelming 8-9 season that resulted in a division title because of the ineptitude of the NFC South.

Looking to add some building blocks to the roster, the 2023 NFL Draft provided that opportunity to Tampa Bay. In what could be a rebuilding year, they selected Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey with their first-round pick, No. 19 overall.

Kancey fills an immediate need for the Buccaneers up the middle as they required help on the interior of their defensive line. Paired with Vita Vea, Kancey’s lack of size will be more than made up for.

What he lacks in size, Kancey makes up for in explosiveness and motor. He doesn’t take off a single play and is a true game wrecker rushing the passer from the defensive tackle spot. His array of pass-rushing moves is quite spectacular and he has the production with the Panthers to prove it.

In 33 games at Pittsburgh, Kancey totaled 34.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. He was always in the opponent’s backfield making plays and when schemed correctly, he will find plenty of success despite the size disparity.

Kancey has drawn some comparisons to another Pitt standout who has become arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was also named the pro comparison for Kancey heading into the draft.

Donald was a bit of an undersized prospect as well entering the NFL, as he is the same height as Kancey but weighed 10 pounds more. He has more than made up for his lack of size with a relentless motor and ability to get into the offensive backfield with regularity, garnering double and triple teams with regularity.

If Kancey can get anywhere near the level of production that Donald has provided, the Buccaneers are going to have a stalwart at defensive tackle to build their defense around for the next decade.

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