Report: Saints signing Mathieu to 3-year, $33M deal
The New Orleans Saints are set to sign All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Mathieu and the Saints agreed to a three-year, $33-million deal that includes $18 million fully guaranteed, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The deal will reportedly be finalized within the next few days. New Orleans was apparently expected to make an aggressive push for the former Kansas City Chiefs standout with the draft complete.
It's a homecoming for Mathieu, who was born in New Orleans and played for LSU in college. The safety was one of the best remaining free agents available on the open market, and it was a surprise that a club didn't pick him during the first waves of free agency.
Mathieu visited the Saints in April, but the team reportedly waited until after the draft to determine if safety remained one of its top needs. The Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles were also linked to the 29-year-old.
New Orleans lost safeties Marcus Williams (signed with the Ravens) and Malcolm Jenkins (retirement) this offseason, creating a major hole in its secondary.
The versatile Mathieu will provide elite playmaking skills and veteran leadership to the NFC South club's defense.
The defensive back recorded 13 interceptions over the past three seasons with the Chiefs, tied for fifth in the NFL. He racked up 76 total tackles, three interceptions, and six passes defended in 16 starts last campaign.
Kansas City opted against re-signing Mathieu and instead brought in Justin Reid on a three-year, $31.5-million contract.