Buccaneers Rumors: Sean Murphy-Bunting Has 'Intrigued' Teams as CB Option in FA

Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, who has spent his entire NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is reportedly on the radar of multiple teams ahead of the start of free agency.

"Teams have been intrigued by the Tampa Bay corner," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported.

Tampa Bay selected Murphy-Bunting out of Central Michigan with a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, and he quickly established himself as an impact player with three interceptions as a rookie.

Most notably, he starred during the team's playoff run to the Super Bowl in the 2020 campaign with an interception in three of the team's four postseason games, including the NFC Championship Game win over the Green Bay Packers.

He also notched six tackles in the Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Yet the 2022 campaign was a roller-coaster for Murphy-Bunting, who was relegated to special teams in the early portion of the year with Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean starting. He also missed five games with a quad injury but turned things around when given an opportunity when the starters were sidelined.

He posted six passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble in the last four games of the regular season, which helped him make a statement ahead of free agency.

"When he got hurt early in the year it gave Dean a chance to play and when he came back Dean was playing great but then Dean got hurt," Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said of Murphy-Bunting, per Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. "I thought Sean came in and he had a heck of a second half of the season. I thought he played man-to-man well, he played zone well, he had great vision, he was confident, and he looked like he did two years ago. He's finally healthy, and I thought he had a heck of a year."

That versatility surely stands out to potential suitors, and Murphy-Bunting is just 25 years old and likely in the middle of his prime.

A bigger role could be waiting in a different secondary, and he would bring championship experience to whichever team signs him.