The New Orleans Saints defensive line is the thinnest spot on their roster, particularly at defensive tackle, so it makes sense that NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has them prioritizing that need in his new mock draft. And on paper, Pittsburgh Panthers product Calijah Kancey would address the need for a disruptive interior lineman.
But he would be an unprecedented pick for New Orleans, who hasn’t drafted a defensive tackle at his size (281 pounds) with such poor length (30.6-inch arms) since Jeff Ireland was hired to overhaul their college scouting department back in 2015. Still, there’s a lot to like about Kancey if you can overlook his shortcomings. Here’s what Zierlein said about this pick:
Kancey plays with terrifying first-step quickness as a penetrator and a pass-rusher. He lacks the size for usage on early downs, but he could have game-altering potential if the Saints are able to slow opposing offenses on first down.
Kancey has a very productive resume with 34.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in 33 games at Pitt, with Pro Football Focus charting crediting him with 111 quarterback pressures.
You just have to wonder how easily that translates to the NFL when the gap in size between Kancey and his opponents widens while the gulf in athleticism narrows. Another former Pitt Panther, Aaron Donald, has overcome the same concern but he’s a truly special player and it’s unfair to Kancey to shoulder those kind of expectations.
He’s not going to win with that first step as consistently in the pros as he did in college, and better blockers are going to more easily push him off the line of scrimmage. As Zierlein observed, he may not be able to play all three downs for New Orleans. That’s something the Saints must consider over the next few weeks until draft day.
