5 former Bruce Arians-coached players the Buccaneers should sign
By Ryan Doyle
LB Deone Bucannon (Arizona Cardinals)
Similar to Nelson, linebacker Deone Bucannon fell out of favor with the new Cardinals coaching staff a year ago. His numbers fell off a cliff, making him an afterthought in a new defensive scheme.
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However, Bucannon was at his best under Arians and Todd Bowles.
Although Bowles left to take a head coaching job in New York in the middle of Bucannon’s stint in Arizona, the basis of his system remained in place. Bucannon was able to use his versatility as a linebacker-safety hybrid to become one of the most dynamic players in the league.
He accumulated no less than 80 tackles in a season from 2014-2017, forcing six fumbles and 26 tackles for loss. Even a fraction of that production would be useful in Tampa Bay.
Alongside Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David, Bucannon could be an every-down linebacker. His aggressiveness allows him to make plays in the running game, even though he is giving up the size. His speed makes him a great option to cover tight ends and halfbacks coming out to the flat.
Bucannon will garner interest in the market and will cost a pretty penny. If Tampa Bay can find a way to make it work financially, Bucannon would be a big boost for the defense.