Calijah Kancey enters his third NFL season full of momentum. In 2024, across 12 games and 541 snaps, Kancey registered 7.5 sacks, an impressive total for an interior defensive lineman.
What stands out even more are his underlying pass-rush metrics. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Kancey’s pressure rate jumped from 9.1% as a rookie to 10.5% last year, with his time to pressure falling from 3.07 to 2.77 seconds. Even more telling, his sack conversion rate skyrocketed from 12.1% in 2023 to 20.3% in 2024, a sign that when he gets there, he’s finishing the job. Add it all up: Kancey isn’t just winning reps, he’s doing so faster and turning them into sacks with elite efficiency.
On tape, his explosive get-off, hold-your-ground leverage, and high motor have consistently disrupted pockets, even when balanced against double-teams.
Entering 2025 fully healthy, Kancey now benefits from an improved supporting cast. Vita Vea will continue to attract double-teams inside, while Haason Reddick’s presence on the edge is likely to pull protection away from the interior. The Bucs have indicated plans to elevate Kancey’s pass-rush role, particularly on third downs and in stunt-heavy packages, which are exactly the scenarios where his quickness and pressure skills create havoc.The growth in his pressure and sack conversion metrics suggests Kancey is ready to transform more of those pressures into finished plays.
If he plays a full 17-game slate and maintains last year’s efficiency, the ceiling is high. Kancey’s 2024 performance wasn’t a fluke. The results confirm his talent. With an expanded role and better pocket collapse around him, expect a breakout in 2025.
Projected Sack Total: 11.0 sacks
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers projections: How many sacks will Calijah Kancey have in 2025?
Reporting by Ashlie Abrahams, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
