Bucs exercise 5th-year option on DT Calijah Kancey

The Buccaneers exercised the fifth-year option for defensive tackle Calijah Kancey on Monday, ensuring he remains in Tampa through the 2027 season.

The option reportedly gives Kancey $14.475 million in guaranteed money for the 2027 campaign.

Kancey went on injured reserve on Sept. 17 with a torn pectoral muscle that required what was reported at the time to be season-ending surgery, though he returned for the final game of the season.

The 25-year-old has been hampered by injuries since entering the league in 2023. He missed three of the first four games of his rookie season with a calf injury and was sidelined again by a calf injury to start the 2024 season, though he returned to finish that season with 7.5 sacks in the final 12 games.

The 2023 first-round draft pick (19th overall) has recorded 11.5 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 55 tackles, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble in 29 career games (28 starts).