It's officially time to look ahead to Week 1 of the regular season, with the preseason in the rearview mirror and roster cuts out of the way, so the Patriots can focus on making the final few improvements before their next task: beating the Seahawks in their season opener.
For the most part, few surprises were expected when the roster cut deadline came, since the Patriots don't have a very deep team. But a few cuts had people scratching their heads, mostly because their preseason performances seemed enough to lock up a spot on the team.
That leaves a few positions still vulnerable and could easily be improved with waiver wire pickups or free agent signings, many of whom could reunite with Mike Vrabel from either previous time with the Patriots or during their tenure with the Titans.
That could be what piques the coach's interest in a player like Sean Murphy-Bunting, who the Cardinals released on Sunday, and the Patriots' cornerback room is looking a bit scarce after they released Brandon Crossley, Marcellas Dial and Kindle Vildor.
With questions about Christian Gonzalez's immediate future and whether Carlton Davis is 100% ready to go, it wouldn't be surprising to see Vrabel bring in a player he's familiar with who had a productive season the last time they worked together.
It would make a lot of sense for both.
Don't be surprised if the Patriots take a shot on an overlooked cornerback after roster cuts
Although it's noteworthy that Murphy-Bunting missed the 2025 season due to an ACL/knee injury, he participated in practice with the Cardinals earlier this month and appeared on track to compete for a backup role on their defense.
Unfortunately, Arizona didn't feel he was on par with what they needed and released him ahead of the deadline, making him available for a team like the Patriots who desperately need depth in their secondary.
They've made it clear that they're trusting young and inexperienced players to be the primary backups to Davis and Gonzalez by keeping UDFA Channing Canada, rookie Karon Prunty, and Charles Woods on the roster.
That makes Murphy-Bunting a bit more desirable, since he has been in the league for six years and even won a Super Bowl with Tom Brady's Bucs in 2020, leading the playoffs that postseason with 3 interceptions and 5 passes defended.
He could easily become a reliable backup in New England who is a borderline starter, since he has served that role throughout his career, and because of his reliability and versatility, he adds a lot of confidence to an otherwise unproven group, especially if Davis and/or Gonzalez are unable to suit up to start the year or at any point beyond.
It seems like a win-win scenario for everyone involved, and it wouldn't be too expensive to bring him in, which Eliot Wolf and Co. will appreciate most.
This is a situation where bringing in a player Vrabel has previously worked with makes sense beyond just the familiarity, because Murphy-Bunting can also be productive, and that's the position that the Patriots are in with what they need.
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