After a protracted, multi-week search for Wink Martindale’s replacement, the New York Giants finally hired their next defensive coordinator on Monday evening. Shane Bowen, the former defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, will now be with the Giants in 2024, and hopefully much beyond this season as well.
In order to get the most out of Bowen’s defense, New York will need to add talent to the unit — particularly in the secondary. Veteran CB Adoree’ Jackson is an impending free agent, unlikely to receive an extension this offseason. This leaves CB Deonte Banks entering his second season as the team’s top cover man and a thin group of corners behind him.
This offseason, the Giants must add more depth at cornerback via free agency. Since Sean Murphy-Bunting is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and may sign to start opposite Banks this season, they could try to reunite Bowen with the former Titans cornerback.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected 26-year-old cornerback Murphy-Bunting in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In his first four seasons of the league, he proved to be a reliable starter, but in the offseason before, his market didn’t really materialize. Murphy-Bunting agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year prove-it contract with the Titans during the previous offseason.
Last season, Murphy-Bunting emerged as a vital component of the Titans’ defense. As one of the Titans’ two starting perimeter cornerbacks in 14 starts in 2023, he racked up 57 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, eight passes defended, and two interceptions.
As the Titans’ starting cornerback, Bowen trusted Murphy-Bunting to cover the best wide receivers on the other team. The degree of trust that exists between Murphy-Bunting and Bowen may make him a desirable free agent choice for the Giants.
