The defensive backfield is one of the Tennessee Titans’ stated offseason focuses. Do they allow seasoned veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting to leave for unrestricted free agency? Or do they re-sign him in the hope that Dennard Wilson, the new defensive coordinator, will help him succeed?
NASHVILLE: The Tennessee Titans have 24 pending free agents, including cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. Is it better for general manager Ran Carthon to let him go or resign him?
Let’s start by examining a few of Murphy-Bunting’s greatest moments in his career.
Eight career interceptions—two of which came in the previous season—a Super Bowl champion while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and five seasons of 245 tackles.
Murphy-Bunting spent his four seasons as a member of the Bucs mostly as a nickel cornerback. He was excellent in the slot covering receivers. He assumed a bigger role after joining the Titans in 2023, but he struggled to stay up with the better receivers he was put in charge of covering.
With a coverage grade of 57.6, he ranked 90th out of 127 NFL cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus (PFF). He had a grade of 71.8 the prior season while he was a member of the Bucs, placing him 26th out of 118 corners.
Among NFL defences, the Titans were placed 29th overall and 26th in pass coverage. Over the past two seasons, new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has worked his magic to turn the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens into two of the best pass defences in the league.
Provide Wilson with some fresh talent to work with, such as Mike Sainristil, Khyree Jackson, or Nehemiah Pritchett, possible draft picks. Additionally, use a portion of that salary cap money to acquire a seasoned cornerback like Cincinnati’s Chidobe Awuzie.
Murphy-Bunting tied a career high in 2023 with 10 passes defended, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles in 14 games. Despite missing three games due to injury, he participated in 800 defensive snaps for the second time in his career. In addition, he recorded the most tackles in his career.
Those five seasons of experience do count, even though his coverage grades suffered when the Titans ordered him to cover primary receivers. Let’s see whether Dennard Wilson can improve the play by Murphy-Bunting.
“In the end, it’s really just about playing football and having a successful season,” Murphy-Bunting stated. “You want to play with the men I play with and be fortunate enough to be healthy. in addition to the coaches. Even though it’s not the record you’re looking for, keep up the good work and dedication to making us better every day. That’s all you can ask for, so I’ll keep going and pushing myself.
Murphy-Bunting is expected to sign a very cheap one-year contract for $4 million, according to PFF. Sometimes you get what you paid for, and sometimes there are hidden treasures in the clearance section.
