Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu has reportedly earned a five-year contract extension worth around $12 million annually to stay in Arizona.
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The #AZCardinals and Tyrann Mathieu have reached an agreement on a 5-year deal, source said. It's worth roughly $12M per year. Huge.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 2, 2016
Along with former college teammate cornerback Patrick Peterson at LSU, Mathieu has emerged as a focal point in one of the best secondaries in the NFL. Mathieu starred at LSU in 2011, earning a trip to the Heisman Trophy ceremony as a defensive back. He was suspended by LSU head coach Les Miles and fell to the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Since arriving in Arizona, Mathieu has been arguably the most versatile player in any secondary in the league. Whether he is labeled as a safety or a slot corner, Mathieu continues to amaze in pass defense with his uncanny ability to make plays on the football.
In three years with the Cardinals, Mathieu has eight interceptions, 30 passes defended, and 182 solo tackles. He has gotten progressively better each year in the Cardinals organization. His 2015 NFL season was his best to date, garnering his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro designations.
However, Mathieu did suffer a season-ending injury in Week 15 of the 2015 NFL season. After intercepting a Sam Bradford pass in the Cardinals’ game versus the Eagles, Mathieu ended up tearing his ACL on the interception return with the game out of reach for the Eagles and heavily in the Cardinals favor.
At 24 years old with many years left of prime football, the Cardinals organization has wisely decided to lock up is star defensive back to a five-year extension. Mathieu won’t hit free agency until he is 29 years old, just as he presumably exits his prime as an electrifying defensive back for the Cardinals.
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