Tyrann Mathieu

Mathieu signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Saints this offseason after a three-year stint with the Chiefs. The veteran will start at strong safety, taking the place of the retired Malcolm Jenkins. Mathieu finished his last season with Kansas City recording 76 total tackles, six passes defensed, three interceptions (one pick-six) and one sack. The 30-year-old still can be an impact player and should play a key role in keeping New Orleans at the top of the league's defensive ranks.

Mathieu hasn't shown any signs of slowing down since joining the Chiefs prior to the 2019 season, racking up 10 interceptions and a pair of sacks over the last two campaigns while also displaying elite coverage skills. He added in 62 tackles (48 solo) over 15 games last season for good measure, which actually marks his lowest output since he played just 10 games back in 2016. It's reasonable to anticipate a slight increase on that front in 2021, though it's hard to see him repeating his career-high mark of six interceptions from last year.

Mathieu is among the rare safety talents who can do everything for a team. Not only is he a willing tackler, racking up 75 (63 solo) last season, but he gets to the quarterback on occasion (2.0 sacks on 2019) and is disruptive in the passing lanes (four interceptions). He's also managed to stay on the field for all of the 16 regular-season contests in each of the last three years after failing to do so in any of the first four campaigns of his career in Arizona. Assuming that trend continues, Mathieu's ability to contribute across the board should make him an attractive IDP option again in 2020.

Mathieu hasn't put it together as a real-life safety and perhaps never will, but for IDP purposes he's a high-ceiling option as a three-down player in a Chiefs secondary that figures to see plenty of targets due to the pace set by Patrick Mahomes. Mathieu's poor coverage metrics in Houston didn't dissuade Kansas City from giving him a three-year, $42 million contract, so for a year at least he's just about locked in for 1,000 snaps. His upside scenario requires being unleashed more as a blitzer, the way he was used at LSU.

Mathieu and the Cardinals couldn't get it quite right, but Houston was eager to give him a new shot at safety. Something of a safety/slot corner tweener for the Cardinals, Mathieu's role with the Texans should be more conducive to IDP production even if he isn't effective in real-life terms. It's been ages, but Mathieu was at one time a fearsome blitzer and turnover machine at LSU, so hopefully the Texans can unearth that earlier form.

Injuries have robbed Mathieu of the stardom that otherwise likely would have been in store for him to this point, but with a new season comes new hopes that we might see what was previously denied. After a torn ACL ended his 2015 and a shoulder issue held him to 560 snaps in 10 games last year, the 25-year-old will hopefully see a full season this time around. Renowned for his blitzing and playmaking ability in coverage, there is untapped upside here but also a wide range of possibility. With Tony Jefferson no longer around, there is in any case ample opportunity.

Mathieu suffered his second torn ACL in three seasons last December, but not before emerging as one of the NFL's top defensive backs on the back of 89 tackles, 17 passes defended, five interceptions (one pick-six), one forced fumble, and one sack in 14 games. The injury (and his slow recovery from the first ligament tear) have seemingly inspired the three-year pro to wait until he's ready to contribute to his entire capacity, leaving his availability for Week 1 in limbo. No matter if he takes the field at the outset of the upcoming campaign (or not), he could have a contract extension in hand as a result of ongoing negotiations with the Cardinals.

Mathieu was off his game in 2014 due to his recovery from ACL and LCL tears suffered in the previous campaign. However, the Cardinals' previous defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles, was forced to use five or six defensive backs on most snaps, meaning Mathieu still maintained a steady role. By season's end, Mathieu had notched 37 tackles (35 solo), four passes defended, one interception, two tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery in 13 contests. Unfortunately for Mathieu, Rashad Johnson also mans free safety and led the defense with 93 tackles and four interceptions last year, who could place a damper on Mathieu's eventual snap count and, by proxy, his production.

Mathieu won't necessarily produce like a top-25 IDP this year, but that would only be the case if the torn ACL/LCL injury he suffered in December limits his workload early in the season. He's expected to be ready for Week 1, however, so there's a decent chance that he's ready to hit the ground running by the time the season starts. To the surprise of no one who ever saw him play at LSU, Mathieu displayed unique upside as a safety/slot corner hybrid. Despite playing a part-time role early in the year, he finished with 68 tackles (65 solo), one sack, and two interceptions in 13 games, and he'll be locked into a three-down role this year as soon as he's physically able to play. Mathieu forced 11 fumbles and posted 16 tackles for loss in his two years at LSU, and his nose for the ball gives him significant upside once he regains full strength.

Mathieu will battle for the starting free safety position against Yeremiah Bell. Mathieu will also likely be featured on special teams as the Cardinals will look to utilize his return ability.