Report: Titans, Sean Murphy-Bunting Finalizing Deal
March 20th, 2023
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting.
It appears a Bucs 2020 playoff star will play in a different uniform this fall.
Per Jordan Schultz of @theScore, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and the Titans are finishing a contract that would keep SMB in Music City for the 2023 season.
SMB was drafted by the Bucs in the second round out of Central Michigan in 2019.
Back in 2020, SMB showed what he can do on a football field with three picks in four games, one of the best performances by an NFL cornerback in postseason history.
Unfortunately, inconsistency in health and play made SMB the odd man out in a free agent shopping list for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht that included fellow corner Jamel Dean.
SMB’s struggles left him expendable.
Bucs fans should remember one of SMB’s playoff picks as so crucial it likely led to the Bucs winning the Super Bowl.
It was his pick at midfield in the final minute of the first half of drama queen Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers while guarding Allen Lazard. That led to the dramatic bomb to end the first half from Tom Brady to Scotty Miller; it gave the Bucs a 21-10 halftime lead. The Bucs would go on to win 31-26.
If not for Miller’s catch, which was set up by SMB’s pick, the Bucs likely don’t win that game.
Even though SMB may be gone, he should be remembered for picking the most important time to have his best four Bucs games.
Breaking: #Titans are finalizing a 1-year deal worth up to $5M with FA CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, sources tell @theScore.
Still just 25 years old, SMB won a Super Bowl with the #Bucs. He notched 1 INT, 1 FF and 6 PBUs during Tampa Bay’s last four games of 2022. pic.twitter.com/FZaVnlg5nF
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 20, 2023
March 20th, 2023 at 9:29 am
I don’t like people with two last names. Pick one.
March 20th, 2023 at 9:30 am
He made one play in four years, not much of a loss.
March 20th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Escape from Bowles. He knows the only games we won last year were because of Brady overcoming Bolwles blunders. W/O Brady they would of lost every game.
March 20th, 2023 at 9:35 am
5 mil is pennies. They must not think that highly of him. Only a 1 year deal from the Titans seems telling too
March 20th, 2023 at 9:37 am
Too bad. Same with Edwards. Should have jettisoned Barrett and Jensen. Young and decent vs older, more expensive question marks with ready replacements.
March 20th, 2023 at 9:37 am
He is a good player, that sprained elbow really set him back.
He will prove to be a good player for the Titans
March 20th, 2023 at 9:39 am
Backups have to be on rookie deals or vet minimums….can’t overpay for a veteran to play sparingly.
March 20th, 2023 at 9:57 am
Only a 1 year deal on a young CB?…….doesn’t say much for him.
March 20th, 2023 at 10:03 am
Bringing back players from a secondary that looked lost in coverage more times than not is a truly moronic move
Let him walk
March 20th, 2023 at 10:05 am
Has to prove he can stay on the field for a whole season, the one year thing might have been his idea
March 20th, 2023 at 10:06 am
Another failed Licht pick.
March 20th, 2023 at 10:07 am
Oh well, we can’t keep everyone! IMHO, we have done well considering how much money we had~
March 20th, 2023 at 10:10 am
Lamarcus a failed pick… unless you count all the interceptions on our super bowl run.
Some fans are so dense.
March 20th, 2023 at 10:13 am
Best of luck
March 20th, 2023 at 10:13 am
Lamarcus is always good for showing what brain death looks like in a comments forum.
March 20th, 2023 at 10:21 am
I salute his play in the 2020 playoffs. Otherwise, bye.
March 20th, 2023 at 10:23 am
A failed pick? Dude started probably 50 games and had three interceptions in three games to help us get to the Super Bowl. Dean was re-signed. The pick used for him is an A. The SMB is a solid B. We found a starter that played all four years and was good enough to be coveted by a decent team. That’s why the Matt Gay pick was a solid. JL saw enough in him to see he’d be good and after playing one season for us, he might be the best kicker in football.
March 20th, 2023 at 10:24 am
Kinda cheap for him…
Says how much we valued him cause we could of got him for 4mil with fl taxes.
March 20th, 2023 at 10:30 am
“…Another failed Licht pick…”
“…He made one play in four years, not much of a loss…”
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Proves you can’t fix stupid
March 20th, 2023 at 10:51 am
Was it really worth keeping Dean over him at that much of a premium in salary in comparison?
March 20th, 2023 at 11:04 am
Too inconsistent
Made 1 play gets burned like toast the next 2 the tape shows it.
Too small and over plays coverage for ball
March 20th, 2023 at 11:21 am
Hope we plays well and we get decent compensation from losing half a dozen players to FA.
March 20th, 2023 at 11:21 am
HC Grover Says:
March 20th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Escape from Bowles. He knows the only games we won last year were because of Brady overcoming Bolwles blunders. W/O Brady they would of lost every game.
^^^^^^^^^
HC as in “Habitual Complainer”: The majority of the time, the Bucs defense kept them in the game. Don’t let your hatred of Todd Bowles blind you.
March 20th, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Good luck, SMB. I will miss you. Three interceptions in the Super Bowl run will always be a cherished memory.
March 20th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
SMB was a liability in covers and his tackling is average. Not a fan. I predicted that they would sign Dean because of his excellent coverage skills plus he’s a good tackler.
March 20th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
” another failed pick by Licht” along with Hall, Goedeke, Tyron and Trask wonder what the first two picks next month will be. The anticipation is killing me. HAHAHAHAHA!
March 20th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Thank god. Couldn’t stand seeing #23 from the back chasing after a WR anymore.
March 20th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Good riddance
March 20th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Trivia question time, what does SMB stand for?
March 20th, 2023 at 4:04 pm
My comments always awaiting moderation, must mean they hit the mark
March 20th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
What happened to freedom of speech Joe?