Tyrann Mathieu: Talks with Cardinals will be 'kind of a wrestling match'

Tyrann Mathieu is optimistic he and the Arizona Cardinals will be able to work out a long-term deal, but he also expects there to be some tugging on both sides.

Mathieu spoke candidly about his contract status while appearing on NBC Sports Radio's "Pro Football Talk Live" on Thursday, acknowledging that his lack of a true position could complicate negotiations.

"I truly believe deep down in my heart that something will get done," Mathieu said. "It's not one of those things that’s easy. It's going to take a little bit of time. I don't necessarily have a true position, so there's different things that go into it."

The Cardinals list Mathieu as a safety because that's the position he plays the majority of time in base defense. However, as Pro Football Focus notes, the Cardinals only play base defense on 33 percent of their defensive snaps. In nearly all other sub-packages, Mathieu lines up at cornerback.

The franchise tag for safeties is $10.8 million in 2016, compared to $13.9 million for cornerbacks.

"It's gonna be kind of a wrestling match but at the end of the day as long as we understand it’s a business and as long as we take care of our relationships I think it'll be all right," Mathieu said. "But like I said I'm not really focused on the contract side of things it's more about me getting healthy and really trying to dominate next year."

Mathieu added that he has no concerns about the torn ACL he suffered in December.

"It's going so well," he said of his recovery. "I, honest to God, can't complain. Just going to work every day, just putting my head down and trying to put my best foot forward. I'm really looking forward to this season, and I know that I'll be back. I'll be 100 percent and I really don't wanna rush this thing. I really wanna take my time and really come back and be all that I can be."