The New Orleans Saints must shed payroll, and the fine folks at Pro Football Focus believe they could do that with a Tyrann Mathieu trade. A third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the LSU product had first-round talent but fell thanks to character concerns. The Arizona Cardinals bet that he could put his best foot forward on the professional level, and they were correct.
Since entering the league, the “Honey Badger” has made three Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams while playing at a high level for four organizations. However, all good things must come to an end, and PFF believes the cash-strapped Saints could trade Mathieu as he enters his age-33 season.
With Mathieu set to count for $11.3 million against the cap next season, the Saints would be smart to prevent that number from being enforced. Trading him after June 1 would mean only $4 million in dead cap each of the next two years, which feels like the best possible mutual outcome.
It should go without saying that the Saints next head coach will have a major voice in the decision to trade Tyrann Mathieu. However, if New Orleans ends up dealing him, don’t be surprised if he lands with the Baltimore Ravens or Cincinnati Bengals.
Ravens, Bengals Could Trade For Saints Tyrann Mathieu
The Baltimore Ravens secondary has come alive down the stretch, but they must find better safety play in 2025. Kyle Hamilton is phenomenal, but the rest of the depth chart leaves something to be desired. The team never found a true replacement for Geno Stone, and Marcus Williams took a major step back this season. While Air’Darius Washington finished the year on a high note, 2024 was the first time in his career he finished with a PFF grade higher than 65.3.
When they have proper personnel, the Ravens use three-safety looks more than any other team. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the bodies to adequately execute that scheme, which played a large role in the unit’s early struggles. Tyrann Mathieu has slowed down since his peak, but the trade candidate is more than capable of playing a complementary role in a defense that should compete for a championship next year.
Fixing The Defense
The Cincinnati Bengals had arguably the NFL’s best quarterback, wide receiver, and edge defender in 2024 but still found a way to miss the playoffs. This is hard to do, and it’s all because just about every defensive player not named Trey Hendrickson was an active liability.
The Bengals have a lot of work to do in the offseason, and it starts with figuring out what to do with wide receiver Tee Higgins. However, this team must address the safety position at some point, and a Tyrann Mathieu trade might be their best course of action.
Geno Stone could not replicate his success away from the Ravens, and this team desperately misses current Atlanta Falcon Jessie Bates. Mathieu is no Bates, but he’d easily be the best safety on this roster. Cincinnati needs someone who can play the run and the pass, and the three-time All-Pro’s versatility should come in handy for this defense.
Main Photo: Matthew Hinton – USA Today Sports
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