Bucs CB Listed As Potential Trade Target

As we figure out whether the Bucs will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, there’s another player on Tampa Bay’s roster that has popped up as a potential trade target. Bucs cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting was among a list constructed by Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

Murphy-Bunting is in a contract year for the Bucs. While he used to be a starter on their defense, he lost the job in a competition during training camp with Jamel Dean. Murphy-Bunting has played slot corner before, but Tampa Bay elected to play Antoine Winfield Jr. at the position, moving him from safety and choosing to use other safeties on the back end.

Here’s what the reporters at NFL Network had to say:

A starter during his first three seasons, Murphy-Bunting has seen his role diminish in 2022 and has missed the past two games with a quad injury, though he’s believed to be close to healthy now. Murphy-Bunting’s talent, experience (31 NFL starts), age (25) and cheap rookie contract (due about $1.41 million for the rest of 2022) make him a logical target and Tampa Bay will have suitors if it’s willing to move him.

Bucs Need All The Help In The Secondary They Can Get

The fourth-year corner has 6 tackles and one interception in five games. His pick came off of Patrick Mahomes in a Week 4 loss to the Chiefs. Murphy-Bunting does provide some value with his playing experience and going on a long playoff run to win a Super Bowl. However, he struggled mightily last season and also had injury problems that have cost him playing time both last year and in this season. He missed eight games in 2021 with a dislocated elbow and has been out the last three games so far in 2022 because of a quad injury.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and Falcons WR Drake London – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It does make it tough for another team to trade for someone that could be a rental player when they already come in with injury problems. On top of that, the Bucs would be very thin at cornerback if they were to send Murphy-Bunting to another team.

With Carlton Davis hurt due to a hip injury, Tampa Bay has been forced to use rookie Zyon McCollum at corner and have implemented Dee Delaney at both nickel and safety. If Murphy-Bunting were healthy, he’d be playing over McCollum.

At this point, it’s not known if Murphy-Bunting is available to play this Sunday when the Bucs hosts the Rams. Not many teams would trade for a guy that they can’t guarantee is going to even be ready in a matter of weeks.

Most of the secondary is banged up at the moment. Corners Murphy-Bunting and Davis have missed multiple games in recent weeks. At safety, Anotine Winfield Jr. is still in concussion protocol and Logan Ryan is still on the injured reserve. If anything, they would make trade for another defensive back, but trading away anybody else in the secondary leaves them in very thin in a spot where they can ill afford to lose another player there any time soon.