Report: Sean Murphy-Bunting Is A Free Agent
August 30th, 2026
Two days ago, Joe referenced the Bucs picking up cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, a Bucs Super Bowl cornerback, from the Arizona Cardinals.
Joe put a potential acquisition in the framework of Tampa Bay dealing running back Sean Tucker for Murphy-Bunting. If you haven’t noticed, the Bucs have depth issues at cornerback.
Well, the Bucs made the smart play and kept Tucker after renegotiating his contract. And this afternoon, CBS national reporter Matt Zenitz said the Cardinals will be releasing Bunting.
Joe is looking up to the football gods.
Todd Bowles loves versatile cornerbacks that know his defense. Murphy-Bunting is in that class. He was a cerebral player during his tampa days, one Bowles said publicly could be a coach one day.
At 29 years old, Murphy-Bunting could represent quality depth for the Bucs and be a strong sounding board for the young cornerbacks room.
Murphy-Bunting blew his knee out in a non-football injury 17 months ago. He missed all of last season and the Cardinals brought him back on a new contract. Per ArizonaSports.com, Murphy-Bunting appeared to be the Cardinals’ starting nickel this season. But it seems the rebuilding team wants to get younger.
Joe has hope the Bucs strongly consider this possibility.
Murphy-Bunting would not have to clear waivers, per NFL rules.
August 30th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Licht needs to sign him like right now.
August 30th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Sign him!
August 30th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
I don’t know if SMB is the guy, but the Bucs better do something at CB and it’s not signing more guys who don’t have real game time NFL experience. Jason don’t cheap out at CB.
August 30th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Get er Done
August 30th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Can he still play or are we getting duped by name recognition?
August 30th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
I’ve just canned Browning, so we have a few dollars to spare. Bring him to Tampa.
August 30th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
He’s old, injury prone and probably won’t play special teams.
Perfect!
August 30th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Sign SMB immediately.
August 30th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
Knee issues for db. Did we all read the same thing?
August 30th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Get on that MF phone JL
August 30th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Dude needs to be on a plane to Tampa for a physical *right now*!
August 30th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Bring Bunting Back!! He will be good for the young guys.
August 30th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
Bring him back now plz
August 30th, 2026 at 3:42 pm
Makes too much sense doesn’t it? I mean with Hayes injured he probably won’t even count against the roster.. but are we comfortable going with him due to special teams over SMB?
August 30th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Would rather Fulton for a veteran DB pickup
August 30th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
Reunion please!
August 30th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Curious about that last sentence Joe… why doesn’t he have to clear waivers? Vet status?
August 30th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Four year veterans are not considered “waived”. They are actually “released/cut” immediately along with their contracts. They don’t have to clear waivers and are free to negotiate a new contract with whatever team they want.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
It makes too much sense for Jason Licht.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
Just what we need. A player we got rid of years ago because he sucks. He gets cut from a team worse than us, and Joe is hoping we get him? Why do people want to go backwards?
August 30th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
I don’t know how Braswell is still on the team. Some of the players they let go they had no business letting go.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
DJ Miller
August 30th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
If Licht eff’s this one up, geez Louise.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
So we have Aiden garnes
August 30th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
This brings me to one of my strongest peeves about JL. Let’s say there is a cut DB we really like. He’s the right age, contract, health, etc. My understanding is that he will go on waivers (unless he’s a vet.) and 14 other teams, who theoretically need him more than we do must pass on him until we get a chance to sign him. If he is a vet. then he is cut and can negotiate with all 32 teams.
However, if our “sainted” GM would call and offer a 6 or 7 pick for him the other team can recall from waivers said player and trade him to the Bucs. Thus assuring we get that player and foiling the other teams in the league from getting him. SMB is worth next year’s 6 or 7. If we want him go get him instead of hopping he will fall to us like Bain did in the draft.
Anybody, including Joe, is my premise correct?
August 30th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Lt. Dan said – “Can he still play or are we getting duped by name recognition?”
He didn’t play at all last year but in the two prior years with Tennessee and the Cardinals, he had better number than with the Bucs (of course he probably played more for those two teams, too). He missed three games in 2023 and two games in 2024 due to injury. Pretty normal for a Bucs CB.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:11 pm
pepe williams released…
he was a bubble type that could have made it…
smb on the way…? 🙂
August 30th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Denzel Burke and Will Johnson are AZ’s starting boundary corners. SMB has been making timely INTs, forcing fumbles, moving inside and playing well when teammates get hurt and getting hurt himself out west. He has been the same player and it looks like the Cards just have a bunch of younger, healthier, cheaper CBs behind their young stud starters.
This is a perfect fit to fill out the CB room. Especially with Hayes hurt.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
If he’s healthy and his attitude hasn’t turned sour, we should sign him.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:19 pm
I mean, knows the scheme, can play inside and out, but is also bouncing back from a torn ACL & MCL. Though, he had been practicing and playing so, Arizona might’ve just moved on because of money. Can probably get him for the vet minimum and let him come in to get familiar. Just keep he & Winfield away from eachother, we don’t need any more arms breaking which is one of the nastier injuries Í can remember watching this team.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Did I miss something? He wasn’t all that when he was here before. Flashed a little in the playoffs, but so did Devin White.
Other than that, injured often and burned more than that.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
A no brainer.
LFG!!!!!
August 30th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
SMB is a lot better than Josh Hayes.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
17 months of no live action after blowing a knee out, while on a cheap contract – and an even cheaper Cardinals team didn’t want him. Cooper is a better defensive coach than he’ll get credit for. If he didn’t carve a spot for SMB that’s not a good sign.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
So many fans here think it’s so easy. First, he has to want to come back here. I’m sure the Cardinals put out feelers to see if anyone would trade. Obviously, his agent was well aware of the situation. Then there is the financial side of any agreement. Today is NOT THE FIRST TIME SMB knowing about POSSIBLY being cut.
August 30th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Okay… I remember SMB. I liked SMB.
…but is SMB available at the money we have available to spend?
…is he interested in coming back at that price?
…is he still the same SMB after the knee injury?
August 30th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
Anyone but Dean:)
August 30th, 2026 at 5:42 pm
He’s worth the risk.
He knows the defense.
Scott is hurt.
Morrison can’t tackle therefore he can’t play nickle.
We let Izien sign with our nemesis: Thé Lions.
We must sign him.
He knows the defense. Scott is still a rookie.
So again. I ask.
Why did we let Izien go?
He was great as a rookie. Great as a safety starting for an injured Winfield.
He was better than many of our corners when he was forced to start as an outside CB.
So why did we let à hard hitting young nickle iwith starter experience go to a Conference Rival?
Now we suck at CB, Safety and Nickle depth.
Morrison shouid have come into camp at the bottom of the depth chart alongside Hayes.
Banking on Morrison to backup Parrish and Zion and banking on Scott to start at nickle without any depth was also quite dumb.
August 30th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
This problem is deeper than grabbing some other teams unwanted scabs. How could the idiot gm and head coach think they were sitting good with what was here? Inept morons
August 30th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
Wow a JBF first , something we all agree on , bring him back
August 30th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Remember how excited we all were to get Jordan Whitehead back?
Be careful what you wish for. 2020 was a long time ago.
August 30th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
Slacker, Not sticking up for Licht but this team had a lot of holes to fill especially @ defensive line and LB. Hard to get everything you want in one or two years. He did flop on a couple of picks but overall, I think he’s an above average GM. We will see here in a couple weeks though!
August 30th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
Hey, Joe…Murphy-Bunting missed the entire 2025 season due to a serious knee injury…as much as we need help, he’s not the solution.
August 30th, 2026 at 6:19 pm
Why is this a question?!?! 1000 percent get his ass back in Tampa. He’s the veteran this roster needs.
August 30th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
I swear…you all saw the name and wanted him. You don’t even realize he’s been out of football because of injury.
He renegotiated his contract so that he could get another chance with the Cardinals…obviously they do not feel he’s healthy enough to keep.
August 30th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
For a minimum contract I would take a flyer on him. He was pretty good when he was here.
August 30th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
Bring him home!
August 30th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
It would be nice to get a corner who isn’t coming off an injury. It’s like a goal yearly Tampa has meet that the corner back room has half its starters hurt throughout the year. We draft guys that come off of serious injury’s from collage
August 30th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
Makes since to get him
August 30th, 2026 at 7:17 pm
He sucks
August 30th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Hopefully licht is listening on this one, no reason smb wouldn’t be a decent depth piece if he’s healthy
August 30th, 2026 at 8:15 pm
He wasn’t good enough to even make the Cardinals roster! Let’s not get too excited here…besides who are we going to release to fit him on the roster?
If he’s not good enough to play for the Cardinals really stop and think about what you are saying here. I’m sure Garnes is better right now for instance.
August 30th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
Sign SMB and cut Haggard
August 30th, 2026 at 8:17 pm
Sign him now!!
Why, cause he has a cool name?
He’s been given years to make a name for himself, and the only one that stuck was the name on the back of his jersey.
Teams don’t cut great, or even good players.
When the Bucs resigned Whitehead after his time with the Jets you’d have thought they found the second coming of Ed Reed or Ronnie Lott.
What’s wrong with you people?
August 30th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
Bring him in for a physical and a tryout to see how that knee is before deciding to sign him or not.
August 30th, 2026 at 8:35 pm
He played some nickel, didn’t he? He’s family! Sign him!!!