The Tennessee Titans added to their secondary on Monday with the team agreeing to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback, Sean Murphy-Bunting.
Murphy-Bunting gives the Titans more experience, versatility, speed, and depth in their secondary, with the depth part being perhaps the most important aspect with the group’s injury history.
Murphy-Bunting’s coverage numbers have been very impressive over the past few years, especially in 2022 when he posted career-bests in passer rating allowed (59.6) and completion percentage against (51.2). He also notched an outstanding Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 80.9.
Upon seeing those numbers, I was no doubt excited; however, people who cover the Bucs have poured some cold water on that. It’s clear the numbers don’t match what they saw on the field.
“He’s pretty bad fellas,” former Bucs beat writer and NFL draft analyst Jon Ledyard tweeted. “Not trying to be a downer. He has awesome tools. But some of the worst instincts I’ve seen. Played in basically every coverage scheme and inside and outside too. For a team that has developed a ton of good [defensive backs]. Nothing worked.”
When talking to the managing editor of Bucs Wire, River Wells, he had this to say when I asked him if he viewed Murphy-Bunting as a quality starter.
“I don’t [think he is],” Wells said. “Murphy-Bunting is a talented piece that could serve as good depth and he’s shown some potential over the years, but even when he has been on the field after recovering from his injuries, he’s been a very frustrating corner to watch on game days.”
Someone who clearly is not in the “down on Murphy-Bunting” camp is his former Bucs teammate and ex-Titans cornerback, Logan Ryan, who took to social media to heap praise on the 25-year-old.
SMB is an INT guy. More picks in the playoffs than some got in they career!! @seanbunting_ Athletic & can play both inside and outside! @Titans got them a playmaker who can do it on the big stage 🤝🏾💼 #LogKnows https://t.co/Ft3GDVuTar
— Logan Ryan (@RealLoganRyan) March 21, 2023
The playoff interceptions Ryan is talking about came in 2020, when Murphy-Bunting tallied one in each of the Bucs’ first three playoff games en route to the Super Bowl. That experience is invaluable for a young secondary like Tennessee’s.
Someone else who is a fan of the signing is our Shaun Calderon, who gave the Titans a good grade for the move. You can read more on his take right here.
Even if Murphy-Bunting is more along the lines of what Bucs people say as opposed to what his coverage numbers say, if everyone stays healthy and the trio of Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary and Elijah Molden can secure their roles, SMB won’t be needed as anything more than a No. 4 corner.
However, with all the uncertainty on the back-end, there’s definitely an avenue for him to have a bigger role than that.
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