Best free agency team fit for Tyrann Mathieu
NFL free agency is right around the corner, and Kansas City Chiefs fans are wondering what’s next for safety Tyrann Mathieu. ESPN projected a potential fit for the former LSU star this week.
Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen agreed a return to Kansas City would be a good fit for Mathieu. After all, he knows the system and proved he can star for the Chiefs defense. But there might one concern about how he’d fare in another year with the team: his age.
“Mathieu is part of the fabric of Chiefs football now,” Fowler wrote. “He makes all the calls for the secondary and can still make splash plays. But with Mathieu turning 30 in May, will the Chiefs be concerned about the cost of a player entering his 10th season?”
Mathieu is a former third-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals and has been with the Chiefs since 2019. He started all 47 games during that time and has 213 tackles, 13 interceptions and four fumble recoveries with Kansas City.
The Chiefs signed Mathieu to a three-year deal in 2019, and that deal is expiring. Bowen made the case for the “Honey Badger” to stay in Kansas City, noting his connection with the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator.
“The best fit for Mathieu is in Kansas City with coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who will utilize the veteran’s multidimensional traits in both coverage and pressure,” Bowen wrote.
Tyrann Mathieu earns significant honor from Kansas City Chiefs
Former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu was honored by the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday, winning the team’s “Derrick Thomas Award,” given to the MVP for the 2021-22 season. It is the second time Mathieu has won the honor, with the first coming in 2019.
While Tyrann Mathieu did not receive any recognition from the NFL, the Chiefs organization voted him MVP of a team which includes some of the league’s brightest stars. A win over quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce proves how valuable he has become for the defense and the team.
The standout safety who starred at LSU put together a strong year for the Chiefs this season, making 76 total tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a sack to help lead Kansas City to the AFC championship game – where it lost Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Former Missouri Tigers star Nick Bolton also received a postseason honor, making the team award show an SEC sweep. The first round pick and starting linebacker won the Chiefs “Mack Lee Hill Award,” a version of the Rookie of the Year award.