Titans To Sign CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

The Buccaneers were able to retain one key young member of their cornerback room this offseason, but another is set to depart. Sean Murphy-Bunting has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Titans, per Jordan Schultz of The Score (Twitter link). The pact has a maximum value of $5MM.

The 25-year-old saw his playing time peak in 2020 with Tampa, when he saw an 83% snaps share. That campaign came one year after he was named a member of the All-Rookie team, raising expectations for Murphy-Bunting. He saw his workload drop in each of the past two seasons, however, ceding playing time to fellow corners Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean.

Each of the latter have signed new deals over the past two offseasons, leaving Murphy-Bunting as the odd man out in the Buccaneers’ secondary. He has racked up 188 tackles, six interceptions and 21 pass deflections over the course of his career, adding three interceptions during the team’s Super Bowl in the 2020 postseason. In coverage, he allowed a completion percentage of 51.2% in 2022, the best mark of his career.

That could make this deal a highly effective one for the Titans, a team which ranked dead last in passing yards allowed (275 per game) last season. Tennessee has invested first- and second-round picks over the past three years in Kristian Fulton, Caleb Farley and Roger McCreary. Murphy-Bunting will provide more experience than that trio, but his age points to him still having notable upside.

The Titans will have another option to choose from at the corner spot in 2023, as they look to get more consistent production from their young personnel group at the position. Murphy-Bunting is likely in line for an uptick in usage compared to his last two seasons in Tampa Bay, as he will look to find success in his new home and in doing so, boost his value heading into next offseason. Tennessee, meanwhile, has added another starting-caliber defender, having already inked linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair to a new deal.