The Arizona Cardinals needed to address their secondary during the offseason because they lacked a clear-cut number-one cornerback. The good news is that the Cardinals finally addressed the position in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting two from the Big Ten, Will Johnson and Denzel Burke. Johnson and Burke join the likes of Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Starling Thomas V, and Elijah Jones as part of a relatively young cornerback room.
The Arizona Cardinals’ veteran DB must compete for the starting job
Sean Murphy-Bunting will not be handed a starting cornerback job this offseason and will have to compete for playing time. Murphy-Bunting had a decent inaugural season with Arizona, leading the team in interceptions and finishing third in pass deflections. He recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, and five pass deflections, giving up a 70.7% completion percentage, 461 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an 84.1 passer rating in 15 starts.
Unfortunately, his next season will have to be put on hold.
The Arizona Cardinals have devastating news for their $25.5 million starter
According to Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals have placed Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list, but he didn’t specify the nature of his injury. As a result, Murphy-Bunting will miss the entire 2025 season.
The #AZCardinals have placed CB Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list, ending his 2025 season before it began.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 22, 2025
If the defense is comfortable with its current roster, the young guys will compete for the two starting outside cornerback jobs. The five competitors include Will Johnson, Max Melton, Starling Thomas V, Elijah Jones, and Denzel Burke, alongside Garrett Williams in the slot. If they are not comfortable with their depth, they could look to add a veteran free agent.
Here’s a look at the top remaining free agent CBs
- Asante Samuel Jr.
- Stephon Gilmore
- Rasul Douglas
- Kendall Fuller
- Jack Jones
- Michael Davis
