Buccaneers’ Star Defensive Tackle Predicted for Breakout Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

If there’s been one knock on Calijah Kancey during his two seasons in the NFL, it’s his lack of reliability.

Advertisement

Which sounds harsh, considering he’s missed eight games across his first two seasons since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers via the No. 19 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

But those missed games keep adding up, and the concern is real. That’s an ominous start to any NFL career, and the Bucs hope it’s not a trend.

When he’s been on the field, he’s been great, and that’s why PFN believes 2025 could be a breakout year for Kancey.

“Calijah Kancey took a big step forward as a pass rusher in his second NFL season, leading the Buccaneers with 7.5 sacks, 39 pressures, and 18 quarterback hits in just 12 games. His pressure rate jumped to 11 percent in 2024, up from 9.4 percent as a rookie, making him one of the more disruptive interior defenders in the league,” BrandonAustin wrote. While Tampa Bay’s defense finished middle of the pack in PFSN’s Defense+ metric and struggled against the pass, Kancey’s ability to generate consistent pressure was a bright spot. With the addition of Haason Reddick to the defensive front, Kancey could see more favorable matchups and opportunities and reach double-digit sacks in 2025.

Advertisement

“With the addition of Haason Reddick to the defensive front, Kancey could see more favorable matchups and opportunities and reach double-digit sacks in 2025.”

Calf injuries have plagued Kancey in both years of his career. He suffered a calf injury in training camp of his rookie season but returned for the season opener before missing a month, 11 games into the season, after aggravating it.

The defensive interior combination of Kancey and Vita Vea is a force the Bucs hope can stay together in 2025 and beyond, as long as both can stay healthy.

Related: Buccaneers’ Offensive Tackle Charlie Heck is Ready to Save the Season

Related: Buccaneers’ New Pass Rusher Labeled ‘Player to Root For’

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.