In a move that seemed like a no-brainer for the last two weeks, the New York Giants finally signed free agent linebacker Deone Bucannon.
Bucannon, 27, was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 9 and it appeared he was a natural fit for the Giants considering he played his first five seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, the former team of Giants’ defensive coordinator James Bettcher.
In a corresponding move, linebacker Tuzar Skipper was waived.
In six seasons, Bucannon, who played collegiately at Washington State, has played in 75 regular-season games with 56 starts. His career totals include 395 tackles (302 solo); 7.0 sacks; and two interceptions, including one he returned 29 yards for a touchdown in 2015; 12 passes defensed; seven forced fumbles; and five fumble recoveries. Bucannon also had 14 tackles (seven solo) in three postseason games for the Cardinals.
In Arizona, Bettcher created a new position for Bucannon, converting him from safety to a role they coined the “money backer” — a hybrid defensive back-linebacker assignment.
