Tyrann Mathieu rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

Tyrann Mathieu bet on himself by signing a one-year deal with the Texans last offseason. Now it’s time for the Honey Badger to get paid.

Safeties aren’t typically hot commodities on the free agency market, but play makers like Tyrann Mathieu are going to get paid this offseason. The only question about the former LSU star is which team is going to break the bank to give him the long-term contract he desires.

Credit the Honey Badger for betting big on himself by signing a one-year deal with the Texans for the 2018 season. Coach Bill O’Brien and company will definitely want to bring him back, but he might have played too well in Houston to return. That’s the risk an organization takes when they ink a player to a one-year deal.

In this piece, we’ll walk you through five teams that should show strong interest in Mathieu via free agency. Each defense needs a real playmaker at the back of their secondary. There might not be a more versatile defensive back than Mathieu in the NFL. He’ll be a popular target once free agency begins.

5. New York Giants

Mathieu doesn’t necessarily want to play in cold weather, but the prospect of teaming up with Odell Beckham Jr. in New York might cause him to overlook the forecast. The Giants could end up with a big need at safety if Landon Collins departs via free agency.

Even if Collins does come back, pairing him with Mathieu could give New York one of the best safety tandems in the NFL. Collins excels at strong safety while Mathieu is more productive when he’s given more freedom at the free safety spot. That would be an expensive duo for GM Dave Gettleman to pay, but New York is desperate to transform itself into a contender as soon as possible.

Admittedly, Mathieu heading to the Giants is a bit of a long shot, but they do present him with a perfect schematic fit.