A Super Bowl champion former Buccaneer returns to Tampa to help a secondary that lacks both depth and experience.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reunited with a player who was a major part of their last Super Bowl-winning team.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN is reporting that Tampa is signing cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting to the team's practice squad, with the possibility of him being elevated to the active roster early in the season.
Murphy-Bunting was Tampa's second-round pick in 2019 and quickly became a key component of the Bucs' defense. He etched his name into Bucs' lore by notching three interceptions during Tampa's playoff run, which ended in a Super Bowl LV victory. His interception of Aaron Rodgers set up Tom Brady's 39-yard touchdown pass to Scotty Miller right before halftime of the NFC Championship Game.
He would leave Tampa to join the Tennessee Titans for the 2023 season before signing with the Arizona Cardinals the following year. A serious knee injury suffered in March ended Murphy-Bunting's 2025 season before it began. The Cardinals released him at cutdowns, leading to his Tampa return.
Bucs Badly Need Secondary Depth
When the Bucs cut their roster down to 53 players, it shockingly included only eight defensive backs. Tampa kept five cornerbacks and three safeties.
Of the five corners, two are rookies, two are in their second season, and the other is coming off a very disappointing season. One of the rookies, Keionte Scott, is currently nursing an ankle injury. Though it is not thought to keep him out for an extended period, Scott's ankle injury is being closely watched heading into Week 1.
Benjamin Morrison, entering his second year, has struggled to stay healthy for years, spanning his college and high school careers. After missing seven games as a rookie, Morrison was injured once again at the beginning of OTAs and has only recently returned to the field.
To say the Bucs badly need secondary depth is a massive understatement.
With Murphy-Bunting, Tampa is getting a seasoned veteran who can be trusted in multiple roles, and his veteran presence should be a massive help in the development of the Bucs' young corners.
Final Thoughts
Murphy-Bunting is a great signing for the Bucs. He should provide excellent depth and, as he gets back into playing shape after missing an entire season, his role on the defense should only grow.
He provides great insurance for any potential injury to Morrison or the other CBs, and his familiarity with Todd Bowles and his defense should help him get up to speed with his new club very quickly.
It shouldn't be long before Murphy-Bunting is added to the active roster. His addition makes the Bucs' secondary better.
