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Jenna Laine
A number of Authors
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have picked up the fifth-year possibility on defensive sort out Calijah Kancey, the workforce introduced Monday.
The deadline to train fifth-year choices is Friday for gamers picked within the first spherical of the 2023 NFL draft.
That is the primary time the Bucs have picked up a participant’s fifth year-option since All-Professional left sort out Tristan Wirfs, their thirteenth draft decide in 2020.
Kancey is now underneath contract by way of the 2027 season, throughout which he’ll now be paid roughly $14.5 million (totally assured) by way of the choice, in line with OverTheCap.com.
The No. 19 draft choice out of the College of Pittsburgh, Kancey grew to become a right away Day 1 starter and has made a major affect for the Buccaneers when wholesome. However well being has eluded him.
Kancey missed 14 regular-season video games final yr with a torn pectoral harm and wasn’t even speculated to make it again however did so to attempt to assist the workforce attain the playoffs, which they in the end missed out on.
“That was my entire purpose,” Kancey stated final week. “[For me], simply with the ability to placed on my helmet and go on the market and ball with my brothers, whether or not we bought the win or not, I simply needed to point out them I am right here for y’all. I eat, sleep, every little thing, I reside soccer [and it] lives by way of me. That was simply me displaying my love for them and the way a lot they imply to me. That is what it was about.”
In 2024, he missed 5 regular-season video games with a left calf harm and in 2023, he missed three video games with a proper calf harm.
“My fundamental purpose is to play each sport,” Kancey stated. “That is my fundamental purpose. There’s nothing — there isn’t any stats, no nothing. Simply play each sport. Simply be able to play each sport.”
Regardless of the missed time final season, he led the workforce with 7.5 sacks in 12 video games in 2024, together with 11 tackles for a loss, a compelled fumble and a fumble restoration. He additionally had 17 quarterback hits. In 29 profession video games, he has produced 11.5 sacks, 22 tackles for a loss, a compelled fumble, a fumble restoration, 55 mixed tackles and 30 quarterback hits.
Kancey is one in every of a number of gamers who’re anticipated to tackle larger management roles within the locker room with the retirement of inside linebacker Lavonte David, who was a 14-year starter and 12-time captain on protection. He’s additionally anticipated to assist information first-round draft decide Rueben Bain Jr., whom the Bucs’ chosen fifteenth within the NFL draft this previous weekend. Bain, like Kancey, is from Miami, stated the 2 know one another “rather well” and he has adopted his profession in Tampa intently.