Home NFL Why the Saints could sign the Honey Badger now

Why the Saints could sign the Honey Badger now

jakrajalMarch 31, 20221 Mins read113

Expect the Saints to finally ink Tyrann Mathieu

By: Jake Rajala

There is no secret that Who Dat Nation has wanted Tyrann Mathieu and Odell Beckham Jr. to return home since the beginning of the 2022 offseason. I finally expect the Big Easy and Tyrann Mathieu to reunite very soon.

Louisiana will always be home for @Mathieu_Era pic.twitter.com/eonTTDV3jk
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) March 28, 2022

The Saints lost Marcus Williams in free agency and Malcolm Jenkins recently retired. Mickey Loomis singed Marcus Maye and Daniel Sorensen, but I expect NO to be very open to signing a starting quality safety to join Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Maye, and Sorensen.

Here is a look at how productive Mathieu has been for the Chiefs in recent memory:

2021: 3 ints, 76 combined tackles, six pass deflections (Pro Bowl Selection)

2020: 6 ints, 9 pass deflections, 62 tackles (All-Pro)

2019: 4 ints, 75 combined tackles, 12 pass deflections (All-Pro)

With that said, I expect the Saints to be the best landing spot for Mathieu at this point in time. Here is why the Honey Badger and the Saints should finally agree on a blockbuster deal.

Mathieu and Jenkins possess a very similar skillset

Jenkins wasn’t only a leader for Dennis Allen’s defense, but he was effective in numerous spots for the Saints defense. Gregg Williams and Jim Schwartz loved Jenkins because he could be talented in the box and from the back-end. If the Saints signed the flexible Mathieu, he could truly play a similar role that Jenkins played in 2021. In fact, the Honey Badger would be an upgrade at SS/FS/OLB from Jenkins last season for the Saints.

Tyrann Mathieu snaps played by alignment this year:
* Safety: 406
* Slot CB: 457
* Outside linebacker: 139
* Inside linebacker: 42
* Perimeter CB: 18

Elite leader and arguably the most versatile defensive player in football.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 31, 2020

Mathieu’s interest in the Saints

CGJ has already pronounced his love for Mathieu via Twitter and then Mathieu replied with emojis that expressed his personal desire to join the Saints. I believe that Mathieu has been patient and open to joining the Saints, but they likely haven’t been desperate to break the bank with Jenkins unretired. Mathieu should finally be able to get the favorable offer he desires from the Jenkins-less Saints and I’d be shocked if there was a team with a combination of talent/culture/money that was more attractive than the Saints.