The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just don’t have a lot of options right now on their defensive front — not until we get to see if 1st round pick Rueben Bain Jr. really has what it takes to dominate in the NFL like he’s done on every other level of football throughout his life.
For the time being, the Buccaneers need to make sure they keep whatever talent they have close to home. Which is the big reason why they’re picking up the 5th year option on disappointing former 1st round pick Calijah Kancey‘s contract.
“Bucs are picking up the fifth-year option for DL Calijah Kancey, which should be about $14.5 million for 2027,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account on Monday. “Had he made a single Pro Bowl, for instance, it bumps the value up another $7 million.”
Kancey was Tampa Bay’s 1st round pick (No. 19 overall) in the 2023 NFL draft but has struggled with injuries over his 1st 3 seasons, missing 23 out of a possible 51 regular-season games, including 15 games in 2025.
NFL Insider Called Shot on Kancey’s 5th Year Option
Auman actually called his shot on Kancey’s 5th year option — way in advance of the May 1 deadline for teams to make the final decisions on 5th year options for 2023 draft picks.
“Bucs who will be in contract years in 2026?” Auman wrote on March 14. Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea, Yaya Diaby, Cody Mauch, Chase McLaughlin, Anthony Nelson, plus the new one-year guys: A’Shawn Robinson, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Sean Tucker. (Expecting Calijah Kancey’s fifth-year option for 2027 to be exercised).”
Kancey was headed into the final year of his 4-year, $14.49 million rookie contract.
Injuries Have Defined Calijah Kancey’s Career
Through his 1st 3 season, Kancey has yet to have a year in which he plays in every regular-season game.
That failure was underlined in 2025 when he predicted he would lead the NFL in sacks, but ended up missing 15 regular-season games due to a torn pectoral muscle. In the 2 games he played in, Kancey didn’t register a sack.
“I think you would be looking at the (NFL) sack leader,” Kancey told Buccaneers.com’s Brianna Dix before the season when asked what a fully healthy season by him might look like.
When Kancey has been (mostly) healthy, he’s been pretty good. Kancey led the Buccaneers with 7.5 sacks in 2024 despite missing 5 games due to injuries. He had 4.0 sacks as a rookie despite missing 3 games.
Kancey, Vea Probably Both Can’t Stay
When Kancey and Vita Vea are on the field together, you can make an argument that the Buccaneers have 1 of the NFL’s most talented interior duos — the problem is they are seldom on the field together.
Both Kancey and Vea will also be playing for massive paydays in 2026. With both of them in contract years, it’s likely the 1 who performs at the higher level this season is going to receive the big money.
They both could also be secondary players to Bain, who dropped to the Buccaneers at No. 15 overall after most mock draft projections had him going in the Top 5 until a pre-draft scandal just 2 weeks before the draft.
Bucs Make $14.5 Million Decision on Injury-Prone 1st Round Pick