Tyrann Mathieu is going home.
It didn’t take long after the Saints were reported to have resumed engaging him in contract discussions, but Mathieu is set to join the football franchise in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana.
According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mathieu is expected to sign with the Saints, with a contract being finalized in the coming days. That last part is significant because if the deal is filed by 4:00 p.m. ET today, the Kansas City Chiefs could acquire a draft pick via the compensatory pick formula.
The #Saints are making a key post-draft addition, as they’re expected to sign All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu, sources say. A long-awaited signing that should be finalized in the coming days, the Honey Badger lands in a perfect spot.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 2, 2022
Mathieu, 30, finishes his run with the Chiefs having earned two All-Pro selections, two Pro Bowl selections, two AFC championship wins and a Super Bowl ring. He was twice selected as the Derrick Thomas MVP award winner by his coaches and peers. During his three seasons in Kansas City, he started 47 games, recording 213 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, 13 interceptions, 27 passes defended and two defensive touchdowns.
There’s little doubt that Mathieu will go down as one of the best free-agent signings in franchise history. It’ll be exceedingly hard to match the level of success and the off-field impact that Mathieu had in the community, but Justin Reid appears to be the man for the job.
