Washington Redskins should be interested in DB Tyrann Mathieu
By Ian Cummings
The Washington Redskins are in the market for a new versatile defensive back. Luckily for them, one just hit the market.
For the early part of the offseason, it was believed that the Arizona Cardinals and Tyrann Mathieu could come to an agreement over his contract, and settle for a pay cut. However, an agreement never came to fruition, and the 25-year old defensive back is now available.
The #AZCardinals are releasing versatile DB Tyrann Mathieu, source said. They tried to redo his deal but it wasn’t to be. Keep an eye on the #Giants and his former defensive coordinator.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2018
His listed position might be safety, but Tyrann Mathieu, also known as the “Honey Badger”, isn’t just a safety. To label him as such is irrational. Mathieu, throughout his career in Arizona, has taken up a number of key roles in the secondary, one of them being slot cornerback.
Mathieu has had minor injury issues; in late 2015, he tore his ACL. But the former third-round pick rebounded well, and in 2017, he posted a respectable Pro Football Focus grade of 77.0. Mathieu would provide the Washington Redskins with an active, versatile player still in his prime. For a secondary that has been depleted since the trade for Alex Smith, Mathieu would effectively fill the gap left by Kendall Fuller.
Mathieu has a notable connection on the Washington Redskins roster. D.J. Swearinger spent a year with the Arizona Cardinals before making the move to Washington, and in the coming days, we could see Swearinger step on the recruiting trail.
It’s worth noting, however, that Mathieu will not come cheap. NFL.com writer Gregg Rosenthal revealed that in a conversation with the Honey Badger, Mathieu said that his agent believes he can make a lot of money on the open market. The Washington Redskins have a good amount left over after their acquisition of Paul Richardson (approximately $23 million), but by signing Mathieu, they could use up as much as half that amount.
Next: Why Paul Richardson is a perfect fit in Washington
Nevertheless, the Washington Redskins should at least monitor the situation. Mathieu is a talented player who can instantly bring the Washington Redskins’ defense one step closer to respectability, something they’ve seemed to avoid in previous years. There’s the potential for a lot of honey in this deal. It might be too sweet not to pass up.