Buccaneers last 10 first-round draft picks, ranked from best to bust
By Brad Smith
6. DE Calijah Kancey, (2023)
At first glance, placing Kancey, the Buccaneers' most recent first-round pick near the top five may seem like a stretch. To be honest, it may be, but Kancey's rookie season was quite impressive of any defensive rookies last season.
Starting in 14 games, Kancey recorded 26 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits, four sacks, and one pass breakup. As a result, Kancey finished tenth in the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award race, placing top-ten alongside standout linebacker and teammate Yaya Diaby at No. 6.
While Kancey's stats aren't as gaudy as those near the top of list, Kancey still had a huge impact for the Buccaneers in a number of games. Take Tampa Bay's 32-9 wild-card win over Philadelphia, where Kancey totaled six quarterback hits, one sack, and graded out with a team-high 82.0 overall grade, all in his first ever playoff apperance.