All Smiles At One Buc Over Sean Murphy-Bunting
September 1st, 2026
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht was grinning this morning.
Joe gets it. A 29-year-old legit cornerback with lots of experience in Todd Bowles’ defense fell into Licht’s arms with a warm embrace. That’s what happeened yesterday with the signing of Sean Murphy-Bunting after the Cardinals released the 2019 Bucs second-round pick.
Licht noted how Murphy-Bunting was eager to be back in Tampa and rejected other teams.
“That was great. He really wanted to be here, too,” Licht said of signing Murphy-Bunting. “He had a lot of opportunities. I went down to talk to [Todd Bowles] about it yesterday and, you know, he was obviously all-in. [Murphy-Bunting] has done some really good things for us and could be a player to watch for us. He’s going to add to the group and provide a lot of competition. So that’s what you want.”
Joe slept so damn well last night. Murphy-Bunting is a smart dude and he’s versatile, just what the Bucs needed. A lot of pressure just came off rookie nickel cornerback Keionte Scott and oft-injured backup cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
September 1st, 2026 at 10:53 am
Me happy.
September 1st, 2026 at 10:56 am
can’t wait to see him at the podium…
i think jenna liked quizzing him too…lol…
we needed to add a vet corner, and bam…here he is…seems like a sweet fit, and at the right moment in time…
i’m getting itchy for football now……….like it’s november or something
September 1st, 2026 at 10:57 am
lose a dean, gain a bunting…………………………go figure
September 1st, 2026 at 11:01 am
Yes , hopefully he can still play and can replace McColumn asap. I have been saying McColumn needs to be on the bench until he proves otherwise. Morrison hopefully can develop as a reserve. My guess is McColumn will get exposed in Cinn and if so maybe Bowles goes with Bunting. Speaking of Cinn . I think the Bucs need to score 30 points to have a chance to win. I have a feeling the offense is going to start slow with new players , coaches and coordinator .
September 1st, 2026 at 11:02 am
Sean Murphy-Bunting rejected other teams to come back here. Apparently once you’ve experienced HOT-AF-Florida in September, Stockholm syndrome manifests.
The best part about bringing back a Bowles veteran is skipping that awkward three-week period where everybody pretends the playbook makes sense. Bowles doesn’t need to teach SMB the defense. Just hand him the updated password and point toward the meeting room.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:04 am
(INSERT loud fart noise here)
September 1st, 2026 at 11:10 am
“Murphy-Bunting is a smart dude and he’s versatile, just what the Bucs needed. A lot of pressure just came off rookie nickel cornerback Keionte Scott and oft-injured backup cornerback Benjamin Morrison.”
Parrish too, because now instead of having to worry about putting him back at nickel he can concentrate solely on playing corner. Which is what we went for with Zyon from ’23 into ’24.
Speaking of ’23 & ’24, SMB only played 7 snaps before getting hurt and missing ’25. So it’s not like he cannot play outside. The ACL injury happened March ’25, so he’s a year+ removed from surgery and into his rehab. Played most recently 10 days ago in the Cardinals 2nd preseason game.
Just felt that needed to be said before ya’ll come in here talking about what AZ didn’t want, when every team in the NFL was cutting talent.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:12 am
Dumb luck
A great addition!
Hopefully he brings leadership because that’s the missing piece in the DB room.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:15 am
Not sure why so many people are down on SMB. He was a decent player at nickel and was performing pretty well in Tennessee as a starting outside corner.
Yeah, he blew his knee, but players do that all the time. It wasn’t career ending.
I think it’s a good move. Only thing here is, as I understand it, is that he was signed to the practice squad, not the 53.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:16 am
^^^
yes yes he’s automatically the wiley vet in the room…
he won’t be rotting on the PS for long
September 1st, 2026 at 11:16 am
It would be nice to sign Evan Neal, OT from NYG.
Huge man, tons of starter experience, great backup for Goedeke.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:20 am
Hopefully this works out better than bringing back Shaq and JPP did …
September 1st, 2026 at 11:23 am
Vsluc
Good point and me too. I’m encouraged because at lease he won’t have to learn the system. Let’s see what happens.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:27 am
“Huge man, tons of starter experience, great backup for Goedeke.”
Slow feet, struggles against speed rushers, and was moved to RG to help extend his shelf life in NYC. Was last seen playing 3rd string offensive guard in camp this summer as a former 7th overall pick that didn’t play a single snap in 2025.
No thanks.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:33 am
SMB is an automatic start. Morrison will be on the injured list soon, she’s going to pull her something by the middle of the second quarter in Cincy. Morrison is a kitten in a game of dogs.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:39 am
While I was hoping the Chiefs would part with Fulton and he’d somehow make his way here, I think this is a solid signing and really makes more sense. Especially with Scott on a gimpy ankle. Who’s the backup nickel after Scott? The ones before were AWJ, JP and Tykee. If you had to move one of those guys to the Nickel, you wipe out what is already thin and shaky depth at both corner and safety.
Really a solid and sensical signing. To get him on PS even better!
September 1st, 2026 at 11:40 am
All smiles for someone who won’t amount to dog-squeeze
September 1st, 2026 at 11:40 am
outside *** corner
September 1st, 2026 at 11:40 am
Rich McKay should be in ROH before Jason Licht. He turned an historic losing franchise into a consistent winning franchise with Tony Dungy hiring and also won the teams first Superbowl without the help of Tom Brady. He won more games in less years than Jason Licht. I am not saying Licht doesn’t belong I am saying do not understand why McKay is not in the ring.
September 1st, 2026 at 11:53 am
evan neal was a huge ny bust…i too fancied the idea of reviving a dude who went 7th in the draft, but it seems like he’s less into football than chris braswell…lol…
johnny har is a serious football coach…and he dismissed that guy right quick…
and with big dog licht being an OL guru, i think he probably sees the writing on the wall with the guy too…
someone will take a flyer on him…after all he was the 7th pick…
and when ny fans were booing him, he said in an interview once……”i’m in the nfl, while they’re flipping hot dogs and hamburgers for a living”……he made no friends with that ish
September 1st, 2026 at 11:55 am
Can we wait a few games for verification?
September 1st, 2026 at 12:09 pm
I wanna know how AW feels about having one of his running mates back. Maybe LVD feels like Aaron Donald felt about Myles Garrett joining the Rams ~ just kidding. Hopefully this is not like Whitehead returning, who seemed lost out there.
September 1st, 2026 at 12:19 pm
So good we cut him once? Glad Joe can sleep now. He knows the system. Yeah, play ten yards off the ball, and let the other team complete passes to wide open receivers, got it.
September 1st, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Nice signing, probably could of used a safety more imo. Now if we can just get a capable back up iol
September 1st, 2026 at 12:22 pm
welcome back smb
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 1st, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Hope he does well for us! Go Bucs
September 1st, 2026 at 12:35 pm
OUT-FREAKING-STANDING!!!!!!! I never wanted him to go. He was valuable for us in winning the SB. QUALITY secondary depth piece and potential starter. Great move Mr. Licht. Well done.
September 1st, 2026 at 12:40 pm
People are acting like he’s a huge free agent signing – saying if he doesn’t work out, he’s a bust. He’s coming in as the 5th corner, did play this preseason so he is apparently healthy – and as far as options you can just pick up off the waiver, to get a veteran who already knows the defense is much more than what you would normally expect at this time of year. Hope it works out, but if it doesn’t – it doesn’t.
September 1st, 2026 at 12:50 pm
You guys seem to forget SMB lost Cooper Kupp entirely the play before Kupp went long past Winfield in the 2022 Playoff loss to the Rams.
Rewatch it
SMB falls down and Kupp gains 20, and then Bowles Blitzes him on the infamous play.
Obviously didn’t get home.
I will say he had an interception in 3 straight games on our SB run so there is that. 🙂
September 1st, 2026 at 2:12 pm
IR by week 5. Mark it down.
September 1st, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Hodad Says:
September 1st, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Nope. He left as a free agent. That’ not a cut.
September 1st, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Remember back when Jordan Whitehead was gonna show up and save the day……..?
Theres a reason these guys are on the streets after cut down day..
He’s a familiar face, which is all Bowles cares about. Bowles develops corners about as well as he develops pass rushers.
September 1st, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Great news !! Defense Wins Championships!!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Bengals !!
September 1st, 2026 at 4:20 pm
If “Joe get sit” doesn’t become a thing, im going to be very disappointed. Lol
September 1st, 2026 at 4:30 pm
This is great news! That could free Scott to prepare as a backup at Safety as well to give us more coverage.
September 1st, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Why is SMB going to the practice squad? They can send down one the OL, no team would want one the backup Buc OL.
September 1st, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Wow. That is fantastic. Depth sorely needed in the CB room.
September 1st, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Magoo….
I’m sure they’re going to make some roster moves. Just haven’t done it yet.