The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ secondary is reeling. Joey Porter Jr. is gone, cornerback Jamel Dean is dealing with an injury, and the depth behind them has been tested in a hurry. So the immediate question became how general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy would respond. They have now made a move to add a veteran cornerback to the room; as per Tom Pelissero, the Steelers are signing Sean Murphy-Bunting off the Buccaneers’ practice squad.

In my opinion, this is a great move for Pittsburgh. It addresses a clear need, it does not cost the Steelers anything of significance, and it brings in a player who matches the profile this front office has chased at the position for years.

What the Steelers are getting from Sean Murphy-Bunting

“This transaction stings a bit, as I tend to still hang onto the belief that Tampa Bay is going to need quality and experienced depth options at the cornerback position. And, of course, Murphy-Bunting a bit of Tampa Bay royalty being a part of the 2020 Super Bowl team. Perhaps my concern is rooted in some injury and depth issues in recent years that we’ve seen, such as in 2024, when the Bucs were very, very thin at the end of the season. Benjamin Morrison’s routine injury issues have been a factor on this roster for two years as well.”

“Murphy-Bunting is about as experienced and historically productive a player as you’ll find on the practice squad, but frankly, it’s a bit of a mystery where he’s at performance level wise and what he’ll give you. The numbers say he was serviceable in Arizona in his last stop. Per Pro Football Focus in 2024, he allowed catches on 37 of 52 targets 390 yards and two touchdowns allowed with three interceptions, with a 81.4 opposing passer rating when targeted. But he missed all of 2025 with injury, so, frankly, it’s just tough to say what the Steelers are getting.” – Craig Smith, A to Z Sports Tampa Bay

Why Daylen Everette may not ready for a bigger role

Let me be clear about one thing first. I am a fan of Daylen Everette. When the Steelers took him in the third round of the NFL draft, I thought they landed a potential steal.

The truth is, we saw on Thursday night that he is still raw. He is only a rookie, and he is going to need time to learn the position, the ins and outs, and the nuances that come with playing cornerback at this level. That is not a knock on his ceiling. It is just where he is right now.

On top of that, Everette is not ready to go out there and face the alphas at wide receiver in the NFL. Throwing him into that fire every week would not be fair to him, and it would not be fair to the rest of the defense either. Bringing in a veteran gives Pittsburgh a buffer while Everett continues to develop.

Where Asante Samuel Jr. fits into the equation

As far as Asante Samuel Jr., he has been fine. He has had some ups and some downs, which is about what you would expect.

Here’s my main issue with leaning on him too heavily, though. Samuel is on the smaller side, and that has never been the type of corner the Steelers prefer to build around. He can be a useful piece, but asking him to anchor a depleted secondary is a lot.

Sean Murphy-Bunting fits the Steelers’ mold

There is a reason Pittsburgh drafted Joey Porter Jr. and signed Jamel Dean. Before that, the Steelers had guys like Cory Trice on the roster. The common thread is obvious: this organization likes long, lanky cornerbacks.

That is much more in line with what Sean Murphy-Bunting brings to this defense. He has the frame the Steelers covet at over 6 foot, and as a veteran, he should be able to step in without the learning curve that a rookie like Everett is still working through.

For one, the move gives Pittsburgh another body it can trust on the outside. Additionally, it takes some pressure off the younger players in the room, who no longer have to carry the load before they are ready. And in reality, a practice squad signing like this is about as low-risk as roster moves get.

What comes next for the Steelers’ secondary

So the question becomes how quickly Murphy Bunting gets inserted into the lineup. If he is not a starter right away, it will be worth watching how the snaps get divided between him, Samuel, and Everette over the next few weeks.

The bottom line is that the Steelers needed help at cornerback, and they went out and found a player who fits what they want at the position. We will see exactly how his role shakes out and go from there, but the way I see it, this is a good move for Pittsburgh.