Titans get surprising result in new Top-10 list
The Tennessee Titans made a handful of offseason additions that flew under the national media’s radar. Though cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting doesn’t offer much star power, he is on the receiving end of some major praise from a prominent national media outlet. Murphy-Bunting was a valuable member in the Tamp Bay Buccaneers’’ secondary over the past […]
The Tennessee Titans made a handful of offseason additions that flew under the national media’s radar. Though cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting doesn’t offer much star power, he is on the receiving end of some major praise from a prominent national media outlet.
Murphy-Bunting was a valuable member in the Tamp Bay Buccaneers’’ secondary over the past four seasons. Drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Murphy-Bunting has logged 36 starts in his career, doing most of his work in the slot.
The Titans signed Murphy-Bunting to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million in hopes to patch up one of the league’s worst pass defenses from just a year ago. His price tag doesn’t look like it belongs to one of the NFL’s top 20 cornerbacks, but Pro Football Focus sees it differently.
Sam Monson of PFF recently released his list of the NFL’s top 32 cornerbacks heading into the 2023 season. It’s a tough list to crack, but Titans fans don’t have to scroll too far down to find Murphy-Bunting at No. 19.
From PFF: "The player typically tasked with manning the slot over the past few seasons in Tampa Bay, Murphy-Bunting is another cornerback limited by injury in 2022. He played in 10 games and was on the field for fewer than 500 defensive snaps but earned a 74.5 PFF coverage grade in that time."
It's worth noting that Murphy-Bunting checks in at No. 8 on Monson’s list of the top cornerbacks in the AFC.
Murphy-Bunting will be an important piece to the Titans’ defense in the upcoming season, but even general manager Ran Carthon, who inked the defensive back, might admit PFF is reaching a little here.
If Tennessee is able to get starter level production out of Murphy-Bunting, he could be in for a more lucrative offseason this time next year. Not only will Murphy-Bunting be a crucial role player for the Titans, but he will also be one of the players the fan base will use to judge Carthon’s first free agency cycle as general manager.
Featured image via Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
