Latest Tyrann Mathieu buzz proves Commanders are running out of time

The 2022 NFL Draft is just three weeks away, so free agency has kind of taken a backseat as far as the news cycle is concerned. For the Washington Commanders, this basically falls in line with how they’ve approached the offseason.

Based on their reserved approach to free agency, the Commanders are unlikely to make additional signings until after the draft. However, that notion could change on a dime if the right opportunity presented itself between now and April 28.

Between Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Stephon Gilmore, Julio Jones and Rob Gronkowski, there’s still plenty of talent available.

Each one of those players would be welcomed additions on Washington, but Tyrann Mathieu has long been viewed as the most realistic (and only) expensive target for the Commanders. Before free agency, CBS Sports even projected the star safety to end up in Ashburn.

Ever since then, fans have gotten their hopes up, but it might be time to stop dreaming about Mathieu landing in Washington, as he took his first free-agent visit with the Saints on Tuesday.

Mathieu’s trip to New Orleans included a meeting with general manager Mickey Loomis, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and getting a tour of the facility.

The Commanders are running out of time with Tyrann Mathieu.

If the Commanders have any real interest in signing Mathieu, they better get a move on because this visit suggests the three-time Pro Bowler’s market is on the cusp of heating up after he spent the first month of free agency biding his time.

We normally wouldn’t overreact after one visit, but Mathieu was born in New Orleans, played in high school at St. Augustine in Louisiana and starred for the LSU Tigers and earned the “Honey Badger” nickname that has stuck with him throughout his professional career due to his knack for forcing turnovers.

At 29 years old, Mathieu could be eyeing a homecoming after spending his first nine seasons in Arizona, Houston and Kansas City. After all, the versatile defensive back sounded pretty open to the idea during a recent interview.

"“First and foremost, it’s a great opportunity with Dennis Allen stepping into the lead position,” Mathieu said, via The Times-Picayune. “He’s a great defensive mind. I have a lot of respect for Ms. (Gayle) Benson and the kind of things she does throughout the community. It’s a team I grew up watching. Any time I get to play in front of family and friends, it obviously gives me more energy. It would be a great opportunity if that was to come.”"

Signing Mathieu, arguably the best free agent left standing, would align with the Saints’ aggressive mindset this offseason. Having just acquired two first-round picks from the Eagles (No. 16 and No. 19), New Orleans clearly views itself as a contender in what is now a wide-open NFC after the recent QB movement.

Additionally, the Saints lost star safety Marcus Williams to free agency, so they’re definitely in the market for the position. While they signed Marcus Maye, the former Jet is coming off a torn Achilles suffered in November, so New Orleans can’t bank on him being the player he was pre-injury, at least not right away.

Long story short, the Saints are seemingly Mathieu’s first choice, they have a need at safety and currently rank fifth in the NFL with $20.024 million in cap space, per OverTheCap. We hate to be a Debbie Downer, but the Commanders will lose their chance to sign Mathieu if they don’t rev up their pursuit.

That is, if they’re even pursuing him.