Deone Bucannon: More NFL Draft Stock, Mock Draft and Senior Bowl Status

Dec 21, 2013; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Washington State Cougars safety Deone Bucannon during the second half against the Colorado State Rams during the Gildan New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium. The Rams defeated the Cougars 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Now that Senior Bowl week is in full swing, there are several players getting recognition for their seasons and for some early showings. Deone Bucannon is just going about his business like he’s supposed to and it’s paying off. Before we talk more about him, here’s a cool little interview from Mobile, AL, where the Senior Bowl practices are going down.

Bucannon’s NFL Draft stock continues to be consistent, measuring out currently as the No. 1 strong safety available in the draft and the 64th best player available overall, according to NFLDraftScout.com at CBS Sports. That should put him off the board somewhere in the mid to late 2nd round, depending on need and demand for a big, physical safety.

Meanwhile we’ve been looking at NFLMocks to keep us updated on an early mock draft board and they’ve once again changed things up a little bit as the post season has unfolded and Senior Bowl surprises and stories emerge. In the first two 2nd round mocks, Deone Bucannon was tabbed as the 51st pick overall, first to the Chicago Bears, then to the San Francisco 49ers via trade. Now, he’s jumped up.

In the most current version of the 2nd round, “Buck” has slid up to No. 42 to the Tennessee Titans.

"#42 – Tennessee Titans – Deone Bucannon – S – WashingtonThey filled one need in the first round.  Now the Tennessee Titans seek help on the back-end of their defense.  Deone Bucannon has good size for a safety, a physical nature when tackling and has that natural instinct to get the football."

I’m not a fan of the Titans, but I don’t necessarily dislike them either. Either way they could use a few playmakers in the defensive backfield and he would be a great young prospect to come in and start immediately. However, even though I personally believe he could go as high as late first round as far as value, I just don’t know if the Titans specifically will reach up that far for him with plenty of offensive weapons still on the board. They are in serious need of a starting receiver to stretch the field so Chris Johnson can find more running room, so I think they go there instead.

Cougfan has also informed us of this little nugget:

"Washington State safety Deone Bucannon has been named the winner of the 2013 College Football Performance Awards Elite Defensive Back Trophy. Bucannon, a First-Team AP All-America pick this past season, is the first Cougar to earn CFPA postseason honors. Twenty-one CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.H/T: Cougfan"

We’ll keep up with Bucannon as his all-star weekend unfolds.