Cardinals adding DT Bilal Nichols, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting to defense

The Arizona Cardinals are boosting their pass rush with the signing of free-agent defensive tackle Bilal Nichols to a three-year, $21 million contract that includes $14.4 guaranteed, ESPN reported Monday.

The Cardinals also are re-signing offensive lineman Trystan Colon to a one-year, $1.7 million deal with $450,000 guaranteed and worth up to $2 million with incentives, NFL Network reported.

Arizona and former Tennessee Titans cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting have agreed to terms which were not immediately disclosed, NFL Network also reported.

Nichols, 27, started all 34 games the past two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. He had 48 tackles with four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one fumble return for a touchdown in a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.

He played on 54 percent of the defensive snaps, compared to 71 percent in 2022 when he totaled 44 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

The Chicago Bears selected Nichols in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Delaware. He has totaled 238 tackles, 14 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and 44 quarterback hits in 94 games (83 starts) for the Bears (2018-21) and Raiders.

Colon, who will be 26 on March 23, spent his first season in Arizona in 2023 after three years with the Baltimore Ravens (2020-22). He started four of the 14 games he played with the Cardinals last season and has played 34 career games (eight starts).

Murphy-Bunting, 26, was a second-round selection of Tampa Bay in 2019 out of Central Michigan. He played for the Buccaneers from 2019-22 before joining Tennessee as a free agent in March 2023.

He started all 14 games he played for the Titans, making 57 tackles and two interceptions. He has 245 tackles and eight interceptions with one returned for a touchdown in 67 career games (50 starts).