NFL Draft season is in full swing, and Mike Kushaba’s latest mock draft has the Saints selecting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey as their first-round pick. Kancey, a Pittsburgh product, has drawn several comparisons to Aaron Donald throughout the pre-draft process.
Saints Select Calijah Kancey In NFL Mock Draft
Calijah Kancey the Player
The most important thing any defender can do in today’s pass-happy NFL is disrupting the quarterback, and Kancey excels at that portion of the game. The defensive tackle has recorded 16 sacks over his three-year collegiate career, including 14.5 over the past two seasons. Kancey can beat opposing linemen in a wide variety of ways, but he’s at his best using his insane speed and motor to get low on blockers, drive them back, and get after the passer.
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Despite his relatively small size, Kancey is no slouch against the run, either. Since earning a starting job in 2021, the defensive tackle has recorded 27.5 tackles-for-loss, an impressive number considering his position. While his run defense probably won’t be as effective against the bigger and stronger blockers of the NFL, it’s clear that he has what it takes to play on early downs at the professional level.
That being said, there is a reason Kancey was avaiable for the Saints in this mock draft. The defensive tackle’s lack of size won’t keep him from finding success in the NFL, but it will prevent him from being a superstar. When defenders get two good hands on him, they can take him out of the play in the running game. This lack of size also shows up on double teams, so unless he adds even more strength to his frame, he probably won’t play too much in short-yardage situations.
How He Fits the Saints
The New Orleans Saints need all the help they can get along the defensive line, and this mock draft reflects that. The team lost starters David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle and has only added Khalen Saunders as an interior replacement. Saunders is a downgrade from both Onyemata and Tuttle, and New Orleans still needs to find a starter opposite him.
Drafting for need is a dangerous gamble, but adding Calijah Kancey is one of the rare instances where need and talent perfectly align. The defensive tackle should be ready to contribute right out of the gate, and adding a player that can consistently collapse the pocket can be a huge benefit for a defense. Interior pressure can be especially troubling for young quarterbacks, and the NFC South is full of inexperienced passers that could be disproportionately affected by collapsing pockets.
It should go without saying that Calijah Kancey is not going to be as good as Aaron Donald. After all, Donald is the best player of his generation, and there is a case to be made that he’s the best defensive player ever. However, just like Donald, Kancey is an undersized defensive tackle out of Pittsburgh with an insane motor and a knack for getting after the quarterback. If he can be even 70% as good as Donald, then the Saints will have a franchise cornerstone anchoring their defense.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
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