Three Corners Cardinals Could Target to Replace Byron Murphy
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The Arizona Cardinals are no longer employing the talents of Byron Murphy after he inked a two-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.
The loss stings - Murphy played high school ball locally before eventually returning to the Valley when the Cardinals brought him back home. When healthy last season, he limited some of the best receivers in football.
Yet for different reasons, Murphy opted for new adventures up north, leaving quite the hole in Arizona's secondary. Marco Wilson, Nate Hairston and Christian Matthew are the lone corners on the depth chart.
Though the Cardinals have been fairly quiet during the free agency period, there's still plenty of talent available.
Three corners Arizona could target on the open market:
Rock Ya-Sin
2022 PFF Coverage Grade: 65.8
Ya-Sin first entered the league as a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Last offseason he was dealt to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for Yannick Ngakoue.
Ya-Sin's age (27), frame (6-0, 192 pounds) and physicality has attracted a handful of teams in free agency. He registered 45 total tackles and seven passes defensed in nine starts.
He's expected to meet with the Baltimore Ravens soon after playing just 11 games last year. Ya-Sin ended his season on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Bryce Callahan
2022 PFF Coverage Grade: 67.4
Callahan first entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2015. He spent the first four years of his career in Chicago before signing with the Denver Broncos in 2019. He spent 2022 with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Callahan's age (31) doesn't exactly fit a youth movement in the secondary, but Callahan still can provide multiple years of experience next to Marco Wilson.
Arizona is losing some versatility with Murphy's previous experience in the slot. Callahan slides into that role and would allow Wilson to remain on the boundary.
Sean Murphy-Bunting
2022 PFF Coverage Grade: 80.9
Murphy-Bunting first entered the league as a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's spent all four years of his career with Tampa Bay, which includes a Super Bowl LV championship on his resume.
Bunting (who will be 26 by the regular season) is a piece that could settle into Arizona's defense as the Cardinals transition into their rebuild. He's an athletic corner who has experience on the boundary and slot, similar to Murphy before he left.
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