One of the first things done after a player is taken is providing the background of how the player fits with his new team and usually giving the pick a letter grade. This is common for analysts to do across the league nearly immediately after someone is taken.

So how did Bucs general manager Jason Licht and the front office do in selecting Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey in the eyes of analysts? Much like the selection, the grades were surprising, but for how positive the pick has been viewed.

PFF Grades Calijah Kancey Pick As “Very Good”

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey Photo By: USA Today

Starting off with the grades, Pro Football Focus (PFF) did not assign the Kancey pick a letter grade. Instead, their pick-by-pick analysis is broken down into Elite, Very Good, Good, Average, and Below Average. The Bucs selecting him earned a “Very Good” grade. here is what their editorial team had to say about the selection:

“He might be undersized, but Kancey is a phenomenal pass-rusher on the interior. His first step is elite, and he’s coming off a season where he led all players at the position with a 92.4 PFF pass-rushing grade. The Pittsburgh product should make an immediate impact in Tampa Bay.”

It is hard to argue with this analysis. If utilized correctly, Kancey has some strengths that can have a big effect upfront for the Bucs. It starts with his pass-rushing ability. Along with his pass-rushing grade, another key statistic from last season was his 22.7% pass-rush win rate. Kancey’s bread and butter is getting to the quarterback, but he is no slouch in the run game.

After being taken about making an impact there, he stated, “I bring that ‘Pop.’ I think guys kind of don’t know how explosive I am — and guys, I want to say, fall asleep on my run game. As you can see, I had a lot of TFLs in the previous years [at Pitt] and I actually love stopping the run. We’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

CBS Sports Gives Bucs’ Selection Of Calijah Kancey A Solid Grade

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Moving on to how CBS Sports saw the Bucs pick, they again were more bullish than bearish for his fit in Tampa Bay. Pete Prisco gave it a B and offered his analysis.

“They need help inside and Kancey has the tools to be an up-the-field, attacking defensive tackle. But he isn’t big and he can get overwhelmed at the point. But he has Vita Vea next to him for that, so I get it.”

Kancey’s size is his biggest weakness, but he used it to his advantage in college to play fast and uniquely attack his matchup. If schemed properly in a Todd Bowles defense pairing with Vea, two of the team’s top sack producers may be along the defensive line next season.

The Athletic Gives Calijah Kancey Pick Lowest Grade

Lastly, The Athletic (subscription required) provided the most analysis of the Kancey pick but also gave it the lowest grade of the three at a still solid B-.

“The Bucs had plenty of needs along the line of scrimmage, and Kancey is a smart pick provided the team reshapes its 3-4 for his talents. A unanimous first-team All-American, Kancey thrived as an interior pass rusher last season with 30 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. The past two seasons he combined for 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss, and nearly all of his snaps came as a 3-technique defensive tackle in Pitt’s 4-3 defense. He also played some in the A gap.

“Although the comparisons are inevitable with former Pitt All-American Aaron Donald, perhaps Kancey’s best comparison is with former La’Roi Glover, a perennial Pro Bowl defensive tackle with the Saints. Kancey (6-1, 281) has small arms (30 5/8), but his quickness off the ball (1.58 in his 10-yard split) has negated those issues in the past. It’s a little unusual for a 3-4 to pull a defensive tackle built like Kancey, but it can work.”

Hall of Fame Bucs DT Warren Sapp – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Pewter Report has already broken down the Kancey comparisons alluded to by Jason Licht in some shape or form in Warren Sapp and John Randle. Both Hall of Famers, their shape and form as smaller defensive tackles either entering the league (Sapp) or their whole career (Randle) was similar to Kancey.

That is not to say he will become that level of player, and if he had the career of Glover (6-2, 285 in his playing days), who was a six-time Pro Bowler and had 83.5 sacks, this pick would be a massive success for the Bucs.

It is way too early to project or predict Kancey’s career, but taking him at No. 19 has been viewed more positively around the league than other selections in what has already been a wild NFL Draft.