Bucs select Calijah Kancey with No. 19 overall pick

The Bucs have a new defensive tackle.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected Calijah Kancey with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Kancey has played three years at Pitt as a defensive tackle, racking up 31 tackles and seven sacks in his last season with the Panthers. He is a bit small for a DT at 6’0″, 280 lbs, but he showed strong athleticism at Pitt and was a disruptor in 2021 and 2022 on the defensive line. He could be particularly useful for the Bucs in a five-tech role.

Kancey will join up with Vita Vea on the offensive line and will serve to shore up the team’s defensive line after the Bucs made a particular point to reinforce it in the offseason with additions like Greg Gaines. The Bucs will still need to address their needs on the offensive line later in the draft.