Five things you need to know about new Giants linebacker Deone Bucannon:
1. Originally a first-round pick (27th overall) of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2014 NFL Draft, Deone (pronounced "Day-own") Bucannon has played in 75 regular-season games with 56 starts. His career numbers include 409 tackles (27 for loss), 12 passes defensed, seven sacks, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He has also played in three postseason games with two starts.
2. Before he joined the Buccaneers this season, Bucannon racked up the vast majority of his stats over the course of five seasons with the Cardinals. James Bettcher, the current defensive coordinator of the Giants, was the outside linebackers coach when Bucannon arrived in 2014. Bettcher spent the next three seasons with him as the team's defensive coordinator. Tampa Bay released Bucannon on Oct. 9.
3. Bucannon's most productive season came in 2015, when he recorded 112 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes defensed, and the interception returned for touchdown.
4. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week (12/20/15) after posting a team-high 11 tackles and recording his career interception, which he returned 39 yards for a touchdown, against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was also an All-Rookie selection by the Pro Football Writers of America.
5. A native of Fairfield, California, Bucannon started 43 of 49 career games as a defensive back at Washington State (2010-13), totaling 384 tackles, 15 interceptions, 14 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, a sack and a blocked punt. He finished his career ranked fourth in school history in tackles, the most ever by a defensive back, while his 15 interceptions were the third-most in school history. He earned first-team All-American honors and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior (2013), leading the team with 114 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His six interceptions led the conference and ranked ninth nationally.
Photos from the career of new Giants linebacker Deone Bucannon.
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) fumbles as he is sacked by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Packers recovered the football. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2015, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is sacked by strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) and defensive end Calais Campbell (93) during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. Bucannon plays inside linebacker, but is listed in the Cardinals depth chart as a "moneybacker." (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 23-0. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell (35) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (23) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) recovers a fumble as Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen (55) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin (89) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) and linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) after catching a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu (32) and Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game at Twickenham Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) reacts after dropping Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (7) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20), left, tackles Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) during the first half of an NFL football game at Twickenham Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon signs autographs for fans before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during a preseason NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) and Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) celebrate Golden's sack of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during the second of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Philadelphia Eagles' Zach Ertz (86) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (23) during an NFL football training camp practice Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) hits Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) pressures New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, top, is hit by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon as he tries to catch a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) celebrates a stop against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) lines up against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, center, is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) and Kevin Minter, bottom, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, right, loses the football as Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon, left, strips the ball away during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Washington State defensive back Deone Bucannon runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Washington State defensive back Deone Bucannon runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2013, file photo, Washington State safety Deone Bucannon (20) runs back an interception during the first half of the NCAA New Mexico Bowl college football game against Colorado State in Albuquerque, N.M. Bucannon was selected in the first round, 27th overall, by the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL draft on Thursday, May 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
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