Buccaneers select Central Michigan CB Sean Bunting 39th overall

The first player from the Mid-American Conference is off the board.

Central Michigan cornerback Sean Bunting was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. As the seventh pick of the night on Friday in Nashville, Bunting was the fourth cornerback selected in the draft and the third in the second round.

Bunting intercepted nine passes in his three seasons at Central Michigan, including five during a terrific sophomore campaign in 2017. Career-wise, he forced four fumbles, defended 15 passes, and recorded 104 tackles. Bunting became a starter for the Chippewas in 2017 and retained his role in 2018, where he earned a First Team All-MAC along with fellow teammate and cornerback Xavier Crawford.

Central Michigan ranked fourth in the FBS in total passing yards allowed last year with Bunting in the lineup. His unit only allowed 11 touchdown passes while finishing with 10 interceptions. Individually, Bunting allowed completions on under 39% of passes targeted to him in a standout junior season before declaring for the draft.

Bunting, 6’0” and 195 pounds, impressed at the NFL Combine with an unofficial 40 time of 4.42 seconds and an outstanding vertical jump of 41.5 inches. He will join a Buccaneers squad that intercepted just nine passes and ranked 26th in passing yards allowed last season with 259.4 per game. Bunting brings strong cover corner skills to Tampa, and he’ll likely check into the depth chart behind young starting corner Vernon Hargreaves and Carlton Davis. As NFL teams continue the trend of playing five defensive backs, Bunting is sure to see plenty of field time in his rookie season, especially given his status as a top-40 pick in the draft.