There may not be a player New Orleans Saints fans want their team to sign more than Houston Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu is an LSU Tigers legend and New Orleans native whose story speaks to many fans, and his electric style of play on the field could help any team in the league.
For the second year in a row, Mathieu will test the waters in free agency. Last season he agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract to play for Houston. Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Mathieu was offered a multi-year extension worth more than $9.5 million annually. That wasn’t enough to convince the safety not to field offers from other teams such as the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
The Saints did not approach Mathieu about signing up in the 2018 signing period, and while it’s early, it doesn’t appear that they have interest in 2019. If he’s looking for a contract bringing in more than $9.5 million per year, New Orleans will likely stay away. While they’ve used three-safety sets out of necessity in the past, they settled into two-safety looks last season with Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams. After the Saints signed backup Chris Banjo to a three-year extension, fans shouldn’t expect a big move at the position.
So, Mathieu Watch continues with a dampener. It’s fine for fans to think he’s a good fit, but they should keep their expectations muted.
