Another Free Agent CB Is Off the Board
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings landed one of the better cornerbacks in this free agency class last week by signing Byron Murphy to a 2-year/$17.5 million contract, but some have been clamoring for the Vikings to make another move to improve the secondary. It makes sense considering the only other CBs currently on Minnesota’s roster are Kalon Barnes, Andrew Booth, Akayleb Evans, and Tay Gowan, who have combined for a total of three NFL starts.
The Vikings also have a clear need at the slot cornerback position. While Murphy has experience in this area, he can’t be in two places at once, so if the Vikings want to use him on the outside with one of these other young players, it makes sense to bring in another veteran to play in the slot.
If that is the plan, though, the Vikings need to get moving because players are quickly coming off the board. Another top free agent CB fell on Monday afternoon with Sean Murphy-Bunting agreeing to a contract with the Tennessee Titans. NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that Murphy-Bunting would be making a visit to the Titans, and now, he’s confirmed that the deal is done between the two sides.
Murphy-Bunting has spent his first four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being selected by the team in the second-round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Central Michigan. During those four seasons, he appeared in 53 games while making 36 starts. In all, he recorded 188 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, a sack, 21 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and 1 defensive touchdown.
Over the past two seasons following Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl victory in 2020, Murphy-Bunting has struggled with injuries, thus limiting his production. In 2021, a dislocated elbow kept him sidelined for 8 games, and in 2022, it was a quad injury that held him out of 5 games for the Bucs.
Even still, when healthy, he can be a productive addition for any NFL defense, and he is a great get for the Titans. Like Murphy, the former Buccaneer can play either on the outside or in the slot. If the Vikings had landed him, it would have created a very versatile duo in the secondary, but alas, those hopes have been dashed now.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.