Deone Bucannon took second-team reps during organized team activities, and the Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick acknowledged he has yet to earn his spot atop the depth chart.
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"A big mental jump, I feel like, is the biggest thing from college to the NFL," the rookie strong safety said, per ArizonaSports.com. "... I'm not there yet, but I'm going to get there."
Bucannon, selected 27th overall, has found himself in a state of "paralysis by analysis," according to coach Bruce Arians, with free safety Tyrann Mathieu telling the Washington State product during OTAs to refrain from thinking so much and "just play."
"I think any time you're the No. 1 pick there's a certain amount of pressure that comes with it," Arians said. "... Potential will get you killed sometimes. It's going out and playing. So much of it's language. The first month is just learning the language."
In the meantime, Bucannon will continue to shadow veteran Tony Jefferson and soak in the wealth of knowledge from star cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie, telling the team's official website: "You'd be dumb to fail, honestly."
General manager Steve Keim expects Bucannon to eventually pick up coordinator Todd Bowles' concepts and roam the defensive backfield as a capable enforcer, not unlike Kam Chancellor's role with the Seattle Seahawks. When Bucannon was asked about his new secondary mates, the Defensive Rookie of the Year dark-horse candidate put them second to none -- not even the Legion of Boom.
"Arguably the best in the league, if you look at it from top to bottom," Bucannon said of the Cards' unit. "Tyrann, Cromartie and Patrick Peterson, that alone you could say is the best in the league."
Considering Peterson's budding rivalry with 'Hawks cover man Richard Sherman, Bucannon will certainly get his chance this season to add some credence to the statement.
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