The Cardinals have released Tyrann Mathieu, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Cardinals asked Mathieu to accept a pay cut, but those talks did not result in a revised deal.
Had Mathieu remained on Arizona’s roster after today, he would have had a large chunk of his contract guaranteed. Unwilling to carry his $14.1MM cap hit in 2018, the Cardinals are releasing him in order to free up resources for free agency. The 25-year-old defender said he was willing to restructure his deal but balked at the notion of the pay cut.
The Cards are not making Mathieu a post-June 1 cut, instead opting to take on the $9.3MM dead-money hit all in 2018, per Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
“I’ve never made a secret that Tyrann has always had a special place in my heart and always will,” GM Steve Keim said. “While we all understand this is a part of the business, that certainly doesn’t make it any easier. We all wish Tyrann nothing but continued success in his career and beyond.”
Mathieu inked a five-year, $62.5MM extension with the Cardinals back in 2016. That deal came after an ACL tear ended his 2015 campaign early. In 2016, he suited up for just ten games. Last year, he played a full 16-game slate, but didn’t look like his usual self.
It wasn’t the best platform year for his free agency, but Mathieu will have a host of suitors due to his playmaking ability and versatility. The 25-year-old will join an impressive free agent safety class that also includes Eric Reid, Morgan Burnett, Tre Boston, Kenny Vaccaro, and Tyvon Branch, but it’s difficult to argue Mathieu won’t be a more desirable option than any of those defensive backs.
The Jets, for one, would have made sense as a speculative destination for Mathieu given the presence of former Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, but New York likely isn’t interested, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. Gang Green, of course, drafted safeties with each of their first two 2017 picks. For what it’s worth, the Giants also employ a former Arizona DC in James Bettcher.
Wow
Someone commented yesterday and said the Cardinals should trade Mathieu and the 14th pick to the Browns for the 4th pick…lol
That said, I still think he has a lot to offer and he could be a really good player for someone. He’ll probably have a lot of options.
Not bad
He had one bad year like wtf. People can have an off year and still be good the next year. How do you think one year wonders happen. It can also be the opposite
wow, dude’s going to get paid handsomely by someone.
Get on the phone Gutes, start fixing your awful secondary up in GB
Gutes won’t pay 10M plus per for Mathieu. If that were the case he would’ve just kept Burnett.
Texans you have screwed up the whole free agency, make everyone happy and atleast sign the honey badger. Yall have the money and need for a safety.
Most likely going to resign guys, if cardinals didn’t think they would of been able to resign him they would of traded him for something
Not necessarily true. Most teams probably don’t give up much of anything for a guy who has a injury history and is due 14M against the cap this year.
I doubt it. He didn’t want to take less money and the Cardinals didn’t want to pay him that price. He’s probably confident he can get something close to what he was earning on the open market. If he resigned with the Cardinals, it would likely be a long term contract with some guarantees because a one year deal with a high salary/bonus would do nothing for the Cardinals to save cap space.
Steelers! … don’t bring back MM
Mitchell was cut
Yes but they evidently are interested in bringing him back
That was my first thought as well. It’s not really what the Steelers do, but I’d like to see that happen
Cowboys, but ‘we’ can’t afford him lol.
He isn’t worth that much. Good cut by the Cardinals. Obviously he is an outstanding player but they made the smart decision.
Mitchell was cut
So they can pay Bradford to be on IR?
Saints, 9ers,raiders, chiefs, browns,
Every team that can afford him will b in on him. He’s an upgrade for well over half the FS/Slot corner situations in the league
STEELERS MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
Come home to New Orleans where you belong. With Vaccaro all but gone, I can’t think of a better replacement
Titans bring him in to pair with Byard. They could make a damn good secondary tandem. Plus we have L. Ryan , A. Jackson, and now M. Butler. Then try and sign one of Sue, or Poe to help up from.
Go get him Packers! Haha and the Honey Badger would be a good starting safety tandem and Tyrann would fill the hole if Burnett leaves (which seems likely)
Steelers make too much sense. Doesn’t count towards their compensation pick balance as he was cut, plays a position of need, and has shown some versatility.
BEARS Go get him … please!