Roster cuts around the NFL have given the Buccaneers another opportunity to add to their initial 53, and two familiar names could make sense as Tampa Bay looks for depth before Week 1. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and quarterback Josh Johnson were both released Sunday, putting two former Bucs back on the market. Both also began their NFL careers in Tampa Bay, with Murphy-Bunting arriving as a second-round pick in 2019 and Johnson as a fifth-round pick in 2008.
Tampa Bay kept only five cornerbacks on its initial roster, and Josh Hayes will miss at least the first four games after being placed on injured reserve with a return designation. That leaves Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish, Benjamin Morrison, Keionte Scott and undrafted rookie Ayden Garnes.
Murphy-Bunting would give Todd Bowles an experienced option who already knows the defense and can play inside or outside. He spent four seasons with the Bucs and was part of their Super Bowl LV secondary before leaving in free agency. There would be some risk. Murphy-Bunting missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a torn ACL and MCL damage, although he returned to work this offseason and had been practicing as Arizona's starting nickel. The Cardinals released him despite $1.75 million of his 2026 salary being guaranteed..
The Bucs made one of their more surprising roster decisions Sunday by releasing Jake Browning and keeping Daniels as the only quarterback behind Mayfield. Daniels earned the job with a strong preseason, but he's still an undrafted rookie who has never taken a regular-season NFL snap. Josh Johnson would fill the QB3 role, but as a more emergency option. The 40-year-old has played 50 NFL games and made 12 starts during a career that has taken him around the league. Bringing Johnson back would give Tampa Bay a veteran third quarterback who could help in the meeting room and provide another option if Mayfield were unavailable. The question is whether the Bucs want to use an active roster spot on a third quarterback after choosing to keep only two on their initial 53.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should the Bucs reunite with Sean Murphy-Bunting and Josh Johnson?
