Bettcher signs another ex-Cardinal

Yet another ex-Cardinal has joined the Giants, and this one is a former first-round draft pick.

The newest Giants linebacker is Deone Bucannon, who becomes the fifth player added who previously worked under Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher when he was in Arizona. Bucannon was the 27th overall selection in the 2014 draft out of Washington State. At 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, he is the sort of run-and-cover linebacker the Giants are continually searching for.

To make room on the roster, linebacker Tuzar Skipper was waived. Skipper played six games for the Giants after he was signed off waivers from the Steelers in early September.

Bucannon, 27, played in 70 games for the Cardinals over five seasons, starting 56 and registering 83, 112, 91 and 82 tackles his first four years. He has two career interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. Bucannon played five games (no starts) this season for the Buccaneers before he was released Oct. 9.

Filling gaps and holes on the depth chart at linebacker has been a chore for the Giants this season, with Alec Ogletree the only mainstay, although he missed two games with a strained hamstring.

Clearly, the Giants trust how Bettcher evaluates his former players, as Bucannon joins former Cardinals Markus Golden, Antoine Bethea, Olsen Pierre and Kareem Martin on defense.

Bucannon entered the NFL as a safety and with the Cardinals, first for Todd Bowles and later played a hybrid “Moneybacker’’ position under Bettcher, which is designed for players able to cover all over the field. Jabrill Peppers has done some of that with the Giants and now Bucannon gives Bettcher another option.

➤ LB Devante Downs was signed off the practice squad and TE Garrett Dickerson was waived. Downs was a 2018 seventh-round draft pick of the Vikings out of California.