The final six letters of Deone Bucannon’s last name are fitting because he plays like he’s been shot from one.
When the Washington State star was taken in the first round of the 2014 draft, he was supposed to be a safety. The Cardinals had a deep secondary that season and a void at linebacker following the suspension of Daryl Washington, so in order to get on the field, Bucannon was moved into the box in nickel formations.
Bucannon excelled from the jump, evading hulking blockers and tracking down running backs like a heat-seeking missile, which gave the Cardinals the confidence to leave him there full-time.