The New York Giants have signed free-agent veteran linebacker Deone Bucannon ahead of their Week 8 matchup with the Detroit Lions.
Big Blue has added another linebacker to their roster after signing Devante Downs off their practice squad.
On Tuesday, the New York Giants decided to sign free-agent linebacker Deone Bucannon. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently released the veteran after he appeared in five games for them this season.
Welcome to Big Blue, Deone Bucannon#GiantsPride | @primepoint
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 22, 2019
Bucannon was originally a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Washington State University. The Arizona Cardinals took him with the 27th overall selection as a safety. Bucannon then transitioned into a safety-inside linebacker role.
He played for Arizona from 2014-18, racking up 404 combined tackles with 27 tackles-for-loss, 14 quarterback hits, seven sacks, two interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
His best season, without a doubt, came in 2015. He racked up 109 combined tackles with 11 tackles-for-loss, six quarterback hits, three sacks, one pick-six, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Bucannon then signed with the Bucs prior to this season on a one-year, $2.5 million deal. He racked up just one combined tackle in the five games he played for them.
It’s unclear what exact role Bucannon could play, but it could very much be like what he played in Arizona. The veteran will be reuniting with James Bettcher, who was his defensive coordinator from 2015-17. Jabrill Peppers, in certain situations, also plays a safety-inside linebacker role, so it’s possible Bucannon could also find himself in a similar situation.
The Giants will take on the Lions in Detroit this coming Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
