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Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

By Russell S. Baxter

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 10: Head Coach Bruce Arians speaks to the media during the introductory press conference for new Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians on January 10, 2019 at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa,FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 10: Head Coach Bruce Arians speaks to the media during the introductory press conference for new Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians on January 10, 2019 at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa,FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Arizona Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) walks off the as he looks on in game action during an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers on October 28, 2018 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Arizona Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) walks off the as he looks on in game action during an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers on October 28, 2018 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. SS/LB Deone Bucannon (Arizona Cardinals)

One more time here is another player with ties to not only head coach Bruce Arians but new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles as well. Versatile Deone Bucannon was the No. 27 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2014. He has lined up in a variety of spots in five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He’s a productive defender who piled up at least 80 tackles in each of his first four years in the NFL. But the one-time Washington State product comes off a disappointing showing which may have the product of numerous circumstances. Was he indeed the right fit in Steve Wilks’ and defensive coordinator Al Holcomb’s system?

After totaling at least 80 tackles in each of his first four NFL seasons, Bucannon totaled only 38 stops, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 13 games. He made a career-low six starts for a team that went from sixth in the league in total defense to 20th in ’18. And no club in the league allowed more rushing yards than Arizona this past season.

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Still, things could certainly change under new head coach Kliff Kingsbury and more notably, new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. If the Cardinals opt to let the five-year defender test free agency, it would hardly be a surprise to see Arians and Bowles welcome him to Tampa with open arms.

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