What position does Calijah Kancey play? Why Jets should draft Pittsburgh star with 13th overall pick

Calijah Kancey is a Pittsburgh Panthers prospect who plays at the defensive tackle position. He is eligible for the 2023 NFL draft after spending four years with the Panthers. Kancey is projected to be drafted in the first or second round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Calijah Kancey started his football journey during his years at Miami Northwestern Senior High School in Miami, Florida. In those two years, he totaled 200 tackles and committed to the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 in an attempt to make a career in professional football.

In his first season with the Pittsburgh Panthers, Kancey played in a single game before being redshirted. In the following season, he came out strong and played in ten games while recording 1.5 sacks and 27 tackles.

In 2021, his game saw improvement where in 12 games he had seven sacks and 33 tackles. Last season, he had 7.5 sacks and 31 tackles and was named All-American and ACC Defensive Football Player of the Year.

Calijah Kancey stands at 6'1" and 281 pounds and is among the best in the position he plays. He might be undersized but is currently dominating the mock drafts that project a healthy future for the 22-year-old footballer.

According to an article from Pro Football Focus, Pitt's defensive end, Calijah Kancey (14.4%) has been selected the most in their mock draft simulator.

One team that is in need of a DE ahead of the 2023 season is the New York Jets. No matter how the Aaron Rodgers deal affects the Jets, they will not end up trading their 13th spot in the first round to move up higher.

Calijah Kancey enters the NFL draft as the second-best defensive tackle prospect behind Jalen Carter. With Pittsburgh, Kancey has had two consecutively strong seasons. He is the most disruptive defensive tackle in college football, thanks to his fierce play on the defensive line.

The Jets need to upgrade their defense, and Calijah Kancey has a high chance of being their first-round selection.

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Why the 13th overall selection is considered the sweetest spot in the NFL draft?

The number 13 might seem unlucky to many, but in the NFL, this spot has produced some of the greatest talents from time to time. One such example is Aaron Donald.

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If we consider the last ten years of the 13th overall selection in the NFL draft, six of those players ended up becoming NFL prodigies.

To name them, they are OT Rashawn Slater (2021), OT Tristan Wirfs (2020), DT Daron Payne (2018), OL Haason Reddick (2017), OT Laremy Tunsil (2016), and DT Aaron Donald (2014).

This is not the first time the Jets have had an opportunity for the 13th overall selection. In 2013, they drafted defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson who went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Jets selected pass rusher John Abraham in 2000 as the 13th pick. Abraham made it to the All-Pro First Team in his second season and played 15 years in the NFL.