The Cardinals picked up the fifth-year option for linebacker Deone Bucannon, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. It wasn’t quite a slam dunk that Bucannon’s option would be triggered by Arizona, but it was viewed as likely. The new 2018 season on his deal will be guaranteed for injury only, so the Cardinals will have an escape hatch if he stays healthy but underperforms.
Bucannon, 25 in August, was used used primarily at linebacker in 2016 after trying to make it work as a strong safety in the previous two seasons. All in all, he has 89 total tackles, two pass deflections, and one fumble recovery in 13 games before an ankle injury shut him down in December. The former first-round pick was ranked as the No. 34 linebacker in the NFL by Pro Football Focus at the time of his injury, a score that was powered by his strong 86.1 coverage grade.
Assuming he stays at linebacker, Bucannon currently projects to start at one of the inside linebacker spots in Arizona’s 3-4 scheme.
For a full rundown of every option decision on 2014 first-round draft picks, check out PFR’s tracker.