Deone Bucannon has always been the kid brother on the Cardinals’ defense.
The 2014 first-round pick entered the NFL with no sense of entitlement and, for the past several years, has willfully soaked in knowledge from more experienced teammates. But as the Cardinals’ linebacker enters his fifth season, his role has evolved.
After offseason defections, Bucannon is now the second-longest tenured Cardinals player on defense behind only cornerback Patrick Peterson.
“It’s crazy how fast it goes by, and it kind of flips on you,” said Bucannon, who is still only 25 years old. “The next thing you know, you’re just like the guy that was helping you when you first came in.