Kansas City Chiefs DB Tyrann Mathieu has been named the top slot defender in the NFL heading into the 2020 season
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar recently took a look back at 2019, in an effort to point out the 11 slot defenders in the NFL who are best set up for success heading into the 2020 season. Mathieu took the top spot on his list and Farrar even compared him to the Chiefs’ defensive version of Patrick Mahomes.
Here’s a look at some of what Farrar had to say about Mathieu:
“. . .When he was in the slot, there was no more effective defender in the league last season. Mathieu allowed 42 slot receptions on 61 targets for just 297 yards, 174 yards after the catch, one touchdown, two interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 69.1.
“Mathieu is able to do so many things at such a high level because he has somehow managed to combine the ideal traits for multiple positions — he has the quickness to excel in the slot, the range to play two-deep safety, the aggressiveness to face up to the run in the box, and his diagnostic abilities make him nightmare fuel for receivers all over the field. If you want to see the ideal slot guy — not to mention the best five-tool pass-defender in the game — look no further than the Honey Badger.”
In addition to all the physical traits that make him so dangerous, wherever he lines up on the field, Mathieu is a student of the game. He studies film tirelessly and works extremely hard to perfect his craft. To borrow from his signature celebration, Mathieu is too smart. Once on the field, Mathieu diagnoses the play quickly, he knows where he needs to be and knows how to get his teammates set up in order to make plays like the one above.
Mathieu really is the NFL’s version of a five-tool player as Farrar says, and the Chiefs are very lucky to have him leading the defense.
