New Orleans Saints brought in Tyrann Mathieu for a visit in early April, but now the team is ready to make an “aggressive push” to reach a deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Mathieu, 29, has spent the last three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning two Pro Bowl trips and two All-Pro First Team nominations. The team went to two Super Bowls during its period and won one.
The Saints selected three times in the first 50 NFL 2022 draft picks, adding receiver Chris Olave, offensive striker Trevor Penning and cornerback Alontae Taylor. But without any added security to the mix, New Orleans turned its attention back to Mathieu.
At the start of the offseason, the Saints signed former New York Jets safety Marcus Maye on a three-year, $ 28.5 million contract. The team also has Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, but he played a hybrid role as a safety corner and slot defender. Former head coach Malcolm Jenkins has announced his retirement in March.
While waiting for the end of the 2022 NFL Draft could be part of why Mathieu remained on the market, teams could have waited until May 2 to avoid security costing them a compensatory choice. Once it does not count against the compensation formula, an agreement is much more likely to be reached.
In addition to the Saints, the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams have been interested in Mathieu since joining the agency in March.