In need of healthy cornerback options, the Steelers are in line to add a veteran to the mix. Sean Murphy-Bunting is being signed off the Buccaneers’ practice squad, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Pittsburgh’s Joey Porter Jr. saga came to an end last week when he was traded to the Cowboys. That move did not come as a surprise given the developments which preceded it, but it left the availability of Jamel Dean and Asante Samuel Jr. critical to the Steelers’ defense. That pairing will not be intact for the time being, though.
Dean suffered an ankle injury in Week 4, and an absence of multiple weeks could now be in store. Pittsburgh is, to no surprise, seeking out healthy depth at the cornerback spot. Samuel and third-round rookie Daylen Everette are in the fold, but Murphy-Bunting could see time shortly after arrival. The 29-year-old has made 88 appearances and 70 starts between his regular and postseason career.
Murhpy-Bunting played out his rookie contract in Tampa Bay, seeing his workload fluctuate over that span. The former second-rounder joined the Titans in free agency in 2023, and he operated as a full-time starter during his lone Tennessee campaign. That was followed by a three-year Cardinals pact, although Murphy-Bunting only wound up playing one year in Arizona. A knee injury including ACL and MCL tears left him sidelined for the entire 2025 campaign.
Not long after being cut by the Cardinals, Murphy-Bunting elected to return to Tampa Bay. He has yet to see game action in 2026, but that is likely to change in the near future. A window of opportunity will now exist for Murphy-Bunting to carve out a role and secure a roster spot even after Dean is healthy. The Steelers currently rank 12th against the pass, and this addition could offer a boost in the secondary.
Pittsburgh entered Monday near the top of the league in terms of cap space with roughly $14.3MM in available funds. This low-cost Murphy-Bunting addition will not seriously alter the team’s ability to make other moves, but it may prove to be worthwhile in at least the short term.