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Tyrann Mathieu

Opportunistic safety still out there

Among the free agents still available, one of the more surprising (to me, anyway) is safety Tyrann Mathieu. He's been a game-changing type of defensive back all along.

The so-called "Honey Badger" struggled with injuries early in his career, but he's now missed a total of three games over the past five seasons. He signed a three-year contract with Kansas City in 2019, and was named an All-Pro in two of those seasons. Kansas City apparently has interest in bringing him back, but let him test the market, which hasn't been lucrative enough to get him to sign anywhere.

Mathieu turns 30 next month -- not all that old. Eventually he'll sign, and be an impact player on that defense.

Over the past five, healthy seasons, which he's spent with Arizona, Houston and now Kansas City, Mathieu has recorded 17 interceptions. Only six active players have more, and three of them (Xavien Howard, J.C. Jackson and Quandre Diggs) signed big-money deals in the past month; the others have either got new contracts or extensions in the past year. Mathieu's turn should be coming.

INTERCEPTIONS, 2017-2021
PlayerGIntPD
Xavien Howard652765
J.C. Jackson622553
Kevin Byard812353
Quandre Diggs751937
Justin Simmons781945
Jordan Poyer791836
Tyrann Mathieu791742
Marcus Peters601740
Darius Slay761771
Harrison Smith781746
Tre'Davious White721660
Marcus Williams761538
Trevon Diggs281435
Duron Harmon811426
Micah Hyde791435
Janoris Jenkins671458
Kenny Moore751445
James Bradberry791372
Minkah Fitzpatrick641336
Kyle Fuller801367
Stephon Gilmore641354
Marshon Lattimore731374
Jalen Ramsey751360
Tre Boston621232
Tashaun Gipson741232
Donte Jackson551238
Damontae Kazee691217
Devin McCourty811232
Malcolm Butler571147
Kendall Fuller721151
John Johnson691137
Darius Leonard581130
Jessie Bates III631035
Pierre Desir611038
Rasul Douglas721047
Joe Haden681054
Anthony Harris751028
Eddie Jackson761033
Bobby McCain721029
Joe Schobert771029
Denzel Ward521050

Kansas City is Mathieu's three seasons with the team has ranked 5th, 5th and 12th in interceptions. Bringing him back will help them remain at the level in the upcoming rankings.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index