Will the Buccaneers Exercise Calijah Kancey’s Fifth-Year Option in 2026?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected defensive tackle Calijah Kancey in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to strengthen their pass rush. As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, the team now faces a key decision: whether to exercise his fifth-year option for the 2026 season.

Your Best Ability Is Availability

Kancey has shown flashes of strong pass-rushing ability when available, but durability has been a major concern. Over his first three seasons, he has missed 22 games due to injuries.

Early in his career, calf injuries sidelined him for multiple games. In 2025, a pectoral tear forced him to miss 14 games. As a result, staying healthy will be the top priority for Kancey heading into the 2026 season.

Production Shows Promise When on the Field

Despite missed time, Kancey has demonstrated effectiveness as an interior pass rusher. In 2024, he recorded 7.5 sacks while missing five games, ranking seventh among NFL defensive tackles.

He also generated 39 pressures that season, tying for 20th among interior defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus. These numbers highlight his ability to impact the passing game when he is active.

Fifth-Year Option Decision Looms

Because Kancey was a first-round pick, the Buccaneers have the option to extend his contract by a fifth year. That option would cost $14,475,000 for the 2026 season.

While several teams have already exercised fifth-year options for their 2023 first-round picks, Tampa Bay may take a different approach. Given Kancey’s injury history, waiting to evaluate his 2026 performance could be the more cautious path.

Kancey Focused on Football, Not Contracts

When asked about his fifth-year option, Kancey made it clear that contract discussions are not his focus.

“Honestly, I don’t know nothing about that,” Kancey stated to the media. “I’m here to play football. I wish I had more knowledge on it, but that’s nothing I’m worried about. I know if I go out there and do what I need to do, it’ll all happen. So that’s the least of my worries.”

His mindset remains centered on performance, with the understanding that strong play will take care of contract matters.

What Kancey Must Do to Secure His Future

For Kancey, the path forward is straightforward. Availability will be just as important as production.

If he can stay healthy and replicate his 2024 level of play across a full season, the Buccaneers would have a stronger case to either pick up his fifth-year option or pursue a long-term extension.

However, another injury-plagued season could raise further concerns about his long-term reliability.

Buccaneers’ Next Steps

The Buccaneers may look to add defensive line help in the upcoming NFL Draft, which begins Thursday. Regardless of roster additions, Kancey’s development and health will remain a central factor in Tampa Bay’s defensive plans.

The BR Rub 

The hesitation is understandable, but it’s also a bit overthought. The Buccaneers don’t need to complicate this decision. They should pick up Kancey’s fifth-year option.

Yes, the injury history is real. Twenty-two missed games in three seasons isn’t something you just brush aside, especially for a player the defense is supposed to lean on. Availability matters, and right now, it’s the biggest question attached to Kancey.

But here’s the part that can’t get lost: when he’s on the field, he produces.

Interior pass rushers who can consistently affect the quarterback are hard to find, and Kancey has already shown he can be one. The 7.5 sacks in 2024—despite missing time—weren’t empty numbers. Neither were the 39 pressures. That’s legitimate disruption from the inside, the kind that changes how offenses operate. You don’t casually move on from that skill set, and you don’t gamble on replacing it unless you have a clear upgrade waiting. The Buccaneers do not.

The Price

The price tag for the option, $14.475 million, sounds significant until you put it in context. For a starting-caliber interior defender with proven pass-rush juice, it’s a manageable number. More importantly, it buys the team time. Time to see if Kancey can finally put together a full season. Time to evaluate whether he’s a long-term piece or a talented player who just can’t stay healthy.

Declining the option, on the other hand, creates pressure the Buccaneers don’t need. It forces a faster decision on a player whose evaluation is incomplete, and it risks losing control of a premium position if he does stay healthy and breaks out.

Kancey’s own approach only reinforces the point. He’s not worried about the contract. He’s focused on playing. That’s exactly what you want from a player in his position, and it aligns with what the Buccaneers should be thinking: let the performance dictate the future.

This isn’t a blind bet. It’s a calculated one.

The Buccaneers drafted Kancey to impact the quarterback, and he’s done that when given the chance. The injuries complicate the picture, but they don’t erase the talent. At a premium position, with proven production and a manageable cost, the smart move is to keep control of the asset.

Pick up the option. Figure out the rest later.