Tyrann Mathieu

Saints Notes: Sanders, Radunz, Mathieu

April 11th, 2025 at 1:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another Derek Carr restructure ties the Saints to the middling quarterback for the 2025 season and will make it costly to separate in 2026. As GM Mickey Loomis continues to delay a rebuild, New Orleans could have a potential opportunity to land a surefire Carr successor at No. 9 overall. Shedeur Sanders‘ stock has seemingly dipped during the pre-draft process, to the point the QB-needy Browns and Giants no longer seem likely to address their situations by taking the Colorado QB. If Sanders reaches No. 6, the Raiders, Jets and Saints await over the next four draft slots. Of that trio, SI.com’s Albert Breer pegs New Orleans as the most likely team to make the move.

Although this would be a historic development for a Saints team that has repeatedly used free agency and the trade market to address its QB position (last first-rounder: Archie Manning), NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill is skeptical the team would select Sanders at 9. The team has been closely tied to Texas’ Quinn Ewers, in a potential Round 2 move, and team brass dined with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. The latter, however, may well require a first-round pick. For trade-up purposes, the Saints hold the No. 40 overall pick as well. In late March, Sanders was mentioned as a player unlikely to fall out of the top 10. If the Saints pass, however, that scenario would seem likely.

Here is the latest out of New Orleans:

Formerly in right tackle competitions in Tennessee, Dillon Radunz relocated to guard during the latter part of his rookie contract. The former second-round pick may be settling there with the Saints. Viewing guard as his top position, Radunz said (via ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell) left guard “obviously” will bring competition in New Orleans. Regular 2024 LG Lucas Patrick joined the Bengals in free agency, clearing a spot opposite Cesar Ruiz. Radunz only played right guard for the Titans last season, but he logged 903 snaps there. Radunz’s one-year deal is worth $2.25MM, Terrell notes; it is fully guaranteed.
Tyrann Mathieu‘s latest Saints contract adjustment will lower his cap number from $11.3MM to $6.09MM, Terrell tweets. Achievable incentives are in the contract, which could allow the veteran safety to make money back after agreeing to a pay cut. The Saints will see Mathieu’s deal void on the final day of the 2025 league year, Terrell adds.
Changing coaching staffs, the Saints recently announced they are retaining Jahri Evans. The former New Orleans All-Pro guard is staying on as assistant offensive line coach under Kellen Moore. Evans, 41, had been an offensive assistant over the past two seasons, which stands to make this move a slight promotion. Additionally, New Orleans hired Jay Rodgers to oversee its edge defenders. Rodgers will come over from Atlanta, where he worked under one-and-done DC Jimmy Lake. The Chargers fired Rodgers late in the 2023 season, but that move came shortly after Brandon Staley‘s ouster. Staley hired Rodgers, an NFL assistant since 2009, in 2022 and had worked with him in Chicago previously.

Saints Rework S Tyrann Mathieu’s Deal, Complete Host Of Restructures

March 11th, 2025 at 9:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joining his hometown team in 2022, Tyrann Mathieu will play a fourth season with the team. He has agreed to reworked contract, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill reports. The veteran safety will be tied to a one-year, $7.2MM deal that includes incentives, Underhill adds.

The Saints are reducing Mathieu’s 2025 base salary from $6.25MM to $3.5MM, Underhill indicates. Incentives could allow the 13th-year veteran to make money back. If Mathieu plays at least 50% of the Saints’ defensive snaps next season, he will see that base climb to $4MM. Escalators between $4.5MM and $7.25MM are in place as well, Underhill adds. If Mathieu hits a 90% snap share in 2025, he would make more than he would have previously. This move will lower Mathieu’s $11.3MM 2025 cap number.

Mathieu, 32, stands to have a good chance to make money back. He has played at least 86% of the Saints’ defensive snaps in each of his three seasons with the club. He played 100% of them in 2022 and 99% in ’23. The former All-Pro’s contract is still on track to void after the 2025 season.

Mathieu’s agreement follows another batch of Saints restructures, which are commonplace as the team continues its brand of cap manipulation. New Orleans has also adjusted the deals of Cesar Ruiz, Carl Granderson and Khalen Saunders, according to OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald, who adds the trio of restructures saves the Saints $13.7MM in cap space.

New Orleans has also restructured the contracts of Pete Werner and Demario Davis, per NewOrleans.football’s Mike Triplett and ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell. Werner’s adjustment will create an additional $2.5MM in space. These moves also come after Ryan Ramczyk‘s restructure, a move that saved $16MM and likely will precede retirement.

The team is also expected to restructure Erik McCoy‘s deal, Underhill notes. A move that frees up $6.69MM in cap space is anticipated for McCoy, who is signed through 2027. As for Mathieu, it looks like his deal will be pushed through the 2026 season. His 2024 agreement tied him to the Saints through 2025, though customary void years were already present in the deal.

The Saints had resided more than $45MM over the cap recently, but they have completed more arduous journeys to reach cap compliance. Teams have until 3pm CT Wednesday — when the 2025 league year officially starts — move under the cap. OverTheCap presently lists the Saints as making another successful journey, placing them at just more than $20MM in cap room. They just take strange routes to get there.

Carr’s adjustment set to make a 2026 separation much more difficult, as $59.67MM in dead money (which would presumably be spread over two years via a post-June 1 release designation) will come in the event the middling QB is cut next year. The Saints are keeping Carr for 2025; the restructure ensures that. Questions about the Mickey Loomis operation’s increasingly complex blueprint will persist, as the Saints have not come close to escaping the NFL’s middle class since Drew Brees‘ retirement. It appears a similar plan will be in place for 2025. While hiring Kellen Moore represents a significant change, he will be working with a similar roster plan to the past few Saints efforts.

Saints S Tyrann Mathieu Wants To Play In 2025

December 30th, 2024 at 2:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tyrann Mathieu agreed to a new Saints deal this past offseason, signaling that he will continue playing past the current campaign. The All-Pro safety is uncertain of when his career will end, but he intends to suit up for 2025 at a minimum.

Mathieu said on Monday (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell) he wants to play next season. Provided that proves to be the case, 2025 will represent his 13th campaign in the NFL and his fourth with his hometown team. The 32-year-old has remained a full-time starter during his New Orleans stint, playing every game to date.

After entering the league as a third-rounder, Mathieu spent his first five years with the Cardinals before a single campaign as a Texan. During that span, the LSU product earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods, and he added to both totals during his three-year run in Kansas City. His Chiefs tenure also included a Super Bowl title, but once his contract expired Mathieu did not receive an offer.

That paved the way for his first Saints deal, a three-year, $27MM pact. Mathieu totaled seven interceptions and 17 pass deflections during his first two New Orleans campaigns, and in March he agreed to an extension keeping him in place through 2025. That contract calls for a base salary of $6.25MM in 2025, and Terrell notes $2.5MM of that total is guaranteed (provided Mathieu does not retire). The 2010s All-Decade Team member’s continued presence will be welcomed on a Saints team which once again faces a number of cap-related decisions in the near future.

Mathieu has recorded three interceptions, seven pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles but his PFF evaluation has taken a notable step back in 2024. After being graded as a top-10 safety each of the past two years, he has fallen to 70th out of 96 qualifying players at the position this season. Still, it would come as a surprise if he were to serve in anything but a first-team capacity next year. Given the Saints’ history of cap gymnastics, Mathieu is among the players who could have their contracts adjusted this offseason. Regardless of what happens on the financial front, he can be expected to suit up for at least one more year.

Saints To Extend S Tyrann Mathieu

March 7th, 2024 at 2:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tyrann Mathieu was already on the books for 2024, but he will now have a new deal in place. The All-Pro safety has agreed to a two-year pact with the Saints, as first reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

This agreement has a value of $13MM, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson adds. Mathieu was owed $9MM in 2024 on his previous pact, with a scheduled cap hit of just over $12MM. New Orleans could have moved on via his release, but that route would have produced negligible cap savings. Instead, the 31-year-old will remain in place for a third and fourth Saints campaign. Underhill notes the new deal will lower the 2024 cap number to roughly $5.5MM. On this extension, Underhill adds $10MM is guaranteed.

Mathieu originally joined the Saints on a three-year, $33MM deal following the end of his Chiefs tenure. Kansas City did not offer a new contract at the time, leaving the LSU alum free to join his hometown team. He has remained a full-time starter over the past two seasons, racking up seven interceptions and 17 pass deflections during that span.

The Saints have again been active in restructuring contracts to move toward cap compliance this offseason. Earlier this afternoon, the team was more than $17MM over the cap. Teams have until 3pm CT on March 13, when the 2024 league year begins, to move under the $255.4MM salary ceiling. The Saints have faced greater challenges than this year’s on the cap front, moving down from more than $100MM over back in 2021. Mickey Loomis‘ team continues to grind away, and this Mathieu accord represents another step.

With Marcus Maye in and out of the lineup due to injuries and a suspension, Mathieu’s presence has been more important for a Saints team still trying to find its footing post-Drew Brees. Even in Year 11, Mathieu remains one of the league’s better back-line presences. Pro Football Focus ranked the safety and experienced slot stopper 10th at his position last season. The Honey Badger intercepted four passes, notching 122 return yards and a touchdown, and broke up nine more in his second Saints slate. Mathieu notched a pick-six in the Saints’ 34-0 win over the Patriots.

Maye could not stay healthy in New Orleans, which will lead to his exit as a post-June 1 cut, but Mathieu — a two-time Super Bowl starter — has not missed a game since signing with the team in May 2022. He joins Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore as Saints defensive pillars. Lattimore, however, has been the subject of trade rumors. Thursday’s agreement at least provides some secondary stability for the NFC South team, ensuring Mathieu will stay put.

Details On Saints’ Recent Restructures

February 25th, 2023 at 12:10pm CST by Ely Allen

We reported a bit this week on some of the Saints’ recent cap-clearing moves as they reworked the contracts of offensive linemen Ryan Ramczyk and Erik McCoy, as well as kicker Wil Lutz. We’ve been provided a bit more detail on the financial moves New Orleans has made this week and how it will impact them in the future.

In regard to Ramczyk’s new deal, the Saints reportedly added a voidable year to his contract, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football. Ramczyk’s cap hit for this year is now at $11.1MM, a reduction of about $10MM, but with cap hits from 2024-27 of $27.03MM, $28.03MM, $25.26MM, and $2.58MM (dead money), the team will likely have to restructure his contract more in the future. His base salaries from 2024-26 are $17MM, $18MM, and $19MM, respectively, giving the Saints some flexibility to restructure. His contract makes him very difficult to trade in the near future, as well, as New Orleans would be facing about $43MM in dead money to have him dealt.

Underhill also provided some details about Lutz’s new deal. His contract now has a base salary of $1.25MM, freeing up $1.5MM of cap space. He will receive a per game active bonus of $26K for a potential season total of $450K, and he can earn $750K in incentives based on field goal percentage and total points.

Additionally, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported yesterday that the team has also restructured safety Tyrann Mathieu‘s contract in order to clear another $4.67MM in cap space for next season. Underhill added that they have also added a voidable year to the veteran’s contract. His cap numbers will now stand at $4.23MM in 2023, $12.07MM in 2024, and $7.30MM of dead money in 2025.

There’s lots to speculate about where this cap space could be going. They could be attempting to make room to accommodate taking on the contract of quarterback Derek Carr, as they were once viewed as frontrunners to land his services, or they could be gearing up to make a run at cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Regardless, the Saints are building some room as they deal with their annual troubles with cap space.

NFC South Notes: Saints, Elflein, Falcons

August 3rd, 2022 at 9:49am CST by Sam Robinson

A potential Alvin Kamara suspension does not appear to be coming to start the 2022 season. The Saints running back’s hearing on charges of conspiracy to commit battery and battery with substantial bodily harm, which was scheduled for this week, has been delayed 60 days, according to KLAS-TV’s David Charns. Kamara, Chiefs cornerback Chris Lammons and two other men face charges in connection with a Feb. 5 assault committed against a man in Las Vegas. The Saints Pro Bowler is bracing for a six-game suspension, but depending on when this hearing ends up taking place, that potential ban may come either during the 2022 season or to start the ’23 campaign.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

Tyrann Mathieu is back with the Saints. The offseason addition is making his training camp debut six days late after being excused for a personal matter, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com notes. Signed to a three-year deal worth $28.3MM, Mathieu is believed to have returned to New Orleans on Tuesday night. The 29-year-old All-Pro joins Marcus Maye as the safeties on track to replace the Marcus Williams–Malcolm Jenkins tandem.
Pat Elflein has played both guard and center for the Panthers, but Matt Rhule said recently the veteran will be working at the latter spot during training camp. Elflein is battling the recently signed Bradley Bozeman for the center gig. Despite Bozeman being one of the team’s offseason additions up front, along with projected starters Austin Corbett and Ikem Ekwonu, The Athletic’s Joe Person noted ahead of camp Elflein had a slight lead for the pivot job (subscription required). A former Vikings center starter, Elflein signed a three-year, $13.5MM deal with the Panthers in 2021. He started nine games with Carolina last season, though Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the league’s worst interior O-linemen.
The Panthers made some changes to their scouting department recently. They bumped Rob Hanrahan from assistant director of pro scouting to pro scouting director and gave his old gig to Tyler Ramsey, Person tweets. Hanrahan will replace Matt Allen, whom the team parted ways with in February. Additionally, Robert Haynes will rise from the area-scout level to a national scouting post, and former Lions wide receiver Corey Fuller — brother of Kyle and Kendall Fuller — is moving from the assistant level to west coast area scout (Twitter link).
Jahri Evans and Ty Warren are attempting to break into the coaching ranks. Both are interning as Saints staffers at camp, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. A 12-year veteran who made four straight All-Pro teams as a Saints guard, Evans, 38, hung up his cleats after the 2017 season. Warren, 41, spent 10 seasons with the Patriots and Broncos, being a starting defensive lineman for two Pats Super Bowl-bound squads. He retired after the 2012 season.
The Falcons also made some staff adjustments. They promoted Sal Conti to pro scout and Rushell Harvey to player personnel coordinator, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Both staffers joined the team last year under GM Terry Fontenot. The team also hired Donavan Ellison, previously a Panthers assistant, to work as a football analyst.

Contract Details: Addison, Michel, Chargers

May 11th, 2022 at 10:10pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve compiled some updated numbers on recent NFL signings:

Mario Addison, DE (Texans): two-year deal. Contract has a $7.7MM base value, including a $2MM signing bonus, per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter.
Bryce Callahan, CB (Chargers): signed. It’s a one-year deal worth $1.27MM, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). The deal has a cap hit of $1.04MM thanks to the veteran salary benefit. Callahan will earn a base salary of $1.12MM and a signing bonus worth $152.5K.
Mike Davis, RB (Ravens): signed. It’s a one-year deal for the veteran running back, per Yates (on Twitter). The deal is worth a bit more than $1.20MM, meaning Davis’s cap hit will qualify for the veteran salary benefit contract.
Tyrann Mathieu, CB (Saints): three-year, $33MM deal ($18MM guaranteed). The deal features a $9.5MM signing bonus and fully guaranteed base salaries in 2022 and 2023. The contract is effectively a three-year pact worth $27MM, with $18MM guaranteed and $2MM in yearly bonuses (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com).
Sony Michel, RB (Dolphins): one-year, $2.1MM deal. The contract includes a $1.75MM base value, including a $350K signing bonus (per Yates on Twitter).
E.J. Perry, QB (Jaguars): signed. The UDFA received $230K in guaranteed money from Jacksonville, including a $23K signing bonus and a guaranteed $207K salary, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
Kyle Van Noy, LB (Chargers): one-year deal. The contract’s base value and cap hit are worth $2.25MM. Includes $1.5MM base salary and $750K signing bonus, per Yates on Twitter.

Saints Expected To Sign Tyrann Mathieu

May 2nd, 2022 at 9:06am CST by Adam La Rose

9:06 AM: New Orleans has, for a while now, been seen as the favorite to land safety Tyrann Mathieu. It appears they have indeed added the veteran, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (on Twitter) that the Saints are “expected to sign” him in the coming days.

3:40 PM: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the deal is indeed in place, and will be officially signed shortly (Twitter link). Mathieu will earn $33MM over three years, with $18MM fully guaranteed.

It was reported yesterday that the Saints would make an “aggressive push” for the soon-to-be 30-year-old. The deal would represent a homecoming for the New Orleans native who played at LSU in college. It would also mark his fourth career NFL team, after he had a one-year stint in Houston between stays in Arizona and Kansas City.

It was with the Chiefs that Mathieu had the bulk of his individual and collective success. He added two more Pro Bowls and All-Pro nods to his resume, and won his lone Super Bowl during his three seasons there. A starter and valued team leader throughout that time, he totalled 13 interceptions in Kansas City, showcasing his positional versatility along the way.

The Chiefs moved on in free agency, however, signing Justin Reid to take over Mathieu’s starting role. That led to speculation the Saints – who lost Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins this offseason – could be interested in the All-Decade member. The team has already signed Marcus Maye and ex-Chief Daniel Sorensen, but they avoided drafting a safety this weekend. Meanwhile, teams like the Rams and Steelers showed interest, and the Eagles hosted him on a free agent visit as well.

Assuming the deal isn’t officially signed until after 3 PM central time, the Chiefs won’t be in line for a 2023 compensatory pick. The Saints, meanwhile, will add a hometown player as a key part of their rebuilt safety room.

Saints To Pursue Tyrann Mathieu

May 1st, 2022 at 1:12pm CST by Rory Parks

The Saints did not select a safety during the 2022 draft, and as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports, they are expected to make an “aggressive push” to sign free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu. The club met with Mathieu — a New Orleans native and former LSU Tiger — in early April but elected to wait until after the draft to explore a contract in earnest.

New Orleans has already added Marcus Maye and Daniel Sorensen in free agency, but given Sorensen’s coverage limitations and Maye’s season-ending Achilles tear in 2021, there is still room for a player of Mathieu’s caliber. That is especially true in light of Marcus Williams‘ free agent defection to Baltimore and Malcolm Jenkins‘ retirement.

Mathieu, who will turn 30 later this month, has suited up for the Cardinals, Texans, and Chiefs in his NFL career. Each of his three years in Kansas City ended with Pro Bowl or First Team All-Pro honors, and he racked up 213 tackles, 13 interceptions, 27 passes defensed, and two defensive TDs during that time. He was instrumental to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV outfit and their 2021 AFC Championship.

Despite those contributions, the Chiefs decided against offering him a contract this offseason. That decision and Mathieu’s extended stay on the open market qualify as something of a surprise, though we do not know what type of money he is seeking. It’s also possible that he is not being valued as highly as his raw totals would suggest; in the 2020-21 campaigns, Pro Football Focus graded him as an average to slightly-above average defender, and an ever-increasing reliance on advanced metrics could be suppressing his market.

Nonetheless, his pedigree in terms of traditional statistical achievements, not to mention his positional versatility and leadership qualities, would seem to make him a valuable addition to any number of clubs. In addition to the Saints, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News believes the 49ers — who also came out of the draft without filling their safety need — could be in play (Twitter link). The Rams and Steelers were also said to be interested, though Pittsburgh’s recent safety additions would seem to foreclose the possibility of a Mathieu signing.

The Eagles may also loom as a potential landing spot. Mathieu met with Philadelphia shortly after his visit with the Saints.

Rams, Steelers Interested In Tyrann Mathieu

April 13th, 2022 at 3:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nearly a month into free agency, Tyrann Mathieu‘s market continues to move slowly. But the three-time All-Pro has now seen several suitors emerge since the calendar turned to April. Two more revealed themselves recently.

The Rams and Steelers are interested in the veteran cover man, who has already met with the Saints and Eagles. Mathieu, understandably, is also believed to be interested in joining the defending champions, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano said during a recent SportsCenter appearance (via 247sports.com). As of Wednesday, the Steelers hold just more than $13MM in cap space; the Rams sit at $7MM.

Mathieu (30 in May) and the Rams have been in contact recently, though Graziano noted a deal might not come together until after the draft. That post-draft juncture could become relevant. Shortly after the draft, free agents added no longer count toward the league’s compensatory formula. That early-May date annually triggers more free agency activity, with teams free to pursue players without additions affecting their 2023 draft ledgers.

The Steelers were connected to Mathieu in March, and interest remains, per Bob Labriola of the team’s website. It does not sound like Pittsburgh is willing to pay Mathieu at a rate similar to his most recent Kansas City deal (three years, $42MM), but the team has been unusually active on the market this year. Beyond Mitchell Trubisky, the Steelers added a few starters in Myles Jack, Levi Wallace and James Daniels. Four-year safety starter Terrell Edmunds remains unsigned. A Mathieu arrival would commence at an interesting point, with Minkah Fitzpatrick on the cusp of a monster extension.

Lucrative deals headline the Rams’ defensive depth chart, leading to another March role-player exodus. The Rams let Darious Williams, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Corbett walk in free agency before trading Robert Woods. They found room for Bobby Wagner, however. Mathieu, who was 3-for-3 in Pro Bowl nods as a Chief, would represent a fourth player with multiple All-Pro honors on Los Angeles’ defense. At safety, the Rams have their 2021 starters (Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp) under contract. Each is coming off a season-ending injury.

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