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.

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.

• 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.

The post Why the Saints could sign the Honey Badger now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes 

Introduction

The Tennessee Titans’ defense last year was nothing short of appalling. The group finished the season as the fifth-worst team in terms of yards allowed. The four teams that allowed more yards were the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and the Atlanta Falcons. All four of these groups had top seven draft picks, while the Titans won their division. The defense desperately needed help, so general manager Jon Robinson added Jim Schwartz to the defensive staff as a senior defensive assistant. 

On January 7th of 2021, Schwartz stepped away from his defensive coordinator position with the Philadelphia Eagles, citing that he needed a break from coaching. On April 7th, the Titans hired Schwartz with the hopes of fixing their defense. Though one coach can not single-handedly solve all the Titans’ defensive woes, Schwartz has an impressive track record. Coupled with an offseason filled with defensive additions, the Titans’ defense could creep back to league average in 2021. 

Disruptive Defensive Tackles

In every one of Schwartz’s stints as a head coach or defensive coordinator, one of his defensive tackles has made the pro bowl and received first-team all-pro honors by the National Football League. The list currently includes Albert Haynesworth, Marcell Dareus, Ndamukong Suh, and Fletcher Cox. While this does not guarantee that Tennessee will produce an elite interior rusher if Schwartz is on the staff, it is a good sign that one of their defensive tackles could develop into a star. 

The Titans’ best interior defensive lineman is 2019 first-round pick, Jeffery Simmons. The Titans drafted Simmons even though he had an injury that forced him to miss almost half of his rookie season. During his nine games in 2019, Simmons earned an above-average grade of 70.4 from Pro Football Focus. Last year, PFF gave Simmons a borderline elite 83.9 mark. Simmons’ trajectory suggests that he is due for yet another step up in the 2021 season, and hopefully, Schwartz can maximize his talent.

Free Agency Additions

The Tennessee Titans knew that they had to spend most of their available resources on the defensive side of the field. Though the Titans had to let weapons Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith walk, they added elite pass rusher Bud Dupree in free agency. Dupree is coming off a torn ACL from week 12 of the 2020 NFL season, but he is expected to make a full recovery and likely be ready by week one. Dupree’s 5-year, 82.5 million dollar contract was the biggest edge contract of free agency, suggesting that the Titans think highly of the former Steeler. Dupree has a chance to revitalize the Titan’s lackluster edge rush unit, and his pairing with Harold Landry makes the Titans a formidable group on the edge. Schwartz and the Titans staff will have a great time coaching Dupree, Landry, and Simmons, and they could wreak havoc on opposing offenses. 

Defensive Draft Haul 

The Titans also revitalized their defense, specifically their secondary, during the 2021 NFL draft. Robinson used the 22nd pick to select Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley. Farley, a 2020 opt-out, was touted as a top ten player in the class. The high-school wide receiver possesses elite athleticism and has shown promise in coverage. His injury concerns pushed him down draft boards, but there is a chance Farley is looked at as the steal of the draft in five years. 

Tennessee added more defensive help during the third round of the draft. The Titans drafted Georgia linebacker Monty Rice with the 92nd pick and Washington defensive back Elijah Molden at pick 100. Rice profiles as a depth linebacker who can take over if either Rashaan Evans or Jayon Brown do not re-sign after 2021, but is not a day one starter. Molden is a chess piece of a player. He can play box safety, corner, or cover the slot. If used correctly, Elijah Molden could be a cornerstone of the Titans’ defense for years to come. 

The post 3 reasons why Jim Schwartz will resurrect the Titans defense appeared first on Pro Football Mania.