If the Minnesota Vikings are more interested in making a playoff push over the second half of the season than selling off veterans, acquiring a quality defensive back should be high on their priority list. Their defense has shown improvement under new coordinator Brian Flores, but it still ranks

Murphy-Bunting is in a breakout season of sorts in a couple of ways.

First, he’s transitioned into a full-time starter at the position for the first time in his five-year career. The 26-year-old CB has started all six games in which he’s appeared in 2023 and played 96% of the Titans’ defensive snaps after surpassing 74% of his team’s defensive snaps in just one prior campaign.

Murphy-Bunting is also playing relatively well considering the volume of pass attempts opposing quarterbacks have sent his way. He is on pace for career-highs in tackles (29 so far), pass breakups (4 so far) and has already set a career-high with 2 forced fumbles, per Pro Football Reference. Murphy-Bunting also has an interception this season, the seventh of his career.

The cornerback will become a free agent in March 2024 after signing a $3.5 million, one-year contract. The Vikings presently have over $38 million to spend in 2023, leaving them with over $8 million in salary cap room available.

Murphy-Bunting, or a more well-known cornerback such as C.J. Henderson of the Carolina Panthers, might be available for one-year rental to Minnesota. After working out a contract deal with All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the team can try to re-sign that player if Flores likes what he sees.

In addition, the Vikings may choose to sell before the NFL’s October 31 trade deadline, which may require saying goodbye to players like edge-rusher Danielle Hunter. But Minnesota’s forthcoming schedule and its three victories against