Tyrann Mathieu was a popular name during his college days with the LSU Tigers. In 2012, then-head coach Les Miles announced the star defensive back would be dismissed from the football team due to a violation of team rules. That same year, Tyrann announced he would be entering the NFL Draft. According to the experts, he was regarded as one of the three best defensive back prospects entering the 2013 draft. The Arizona Cardinals drafted him in the third round with the 69th overall pick. Tyrann spent the first five years of his career with Arizona. In 2018, he signed a free agent contract with the Houston Texans. After one season in Houston, he signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and became that key piece that helped them win a Super Bowl. Later, the Chiefs released him after failing to sign him to a long-term deal. Today, it was announced the Saints are signing the three-time pro bowler.
I feel he’s the best all-around safety in this game today. What I’ve always admired about him is he’s not the biggest guy nor is he the quickest. Tyrann just has that dog mentality in him. I always remember my coaches saying it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. I can’t think of another player that can apply to more than Tyrann. He’s a ferocious football player that gives his everything on the field. Tyrann is an aggressive player with the confidence to shake off a bad play. Even if you make a play on him, he can erase it mentally and look forward to the next. His instincts amaze me. It’s the hand-eye coordination that stands out in his play. In pass coverage, he can defend a receiver by going step for step with him and knock the ball down at the last second. Tyrann is a true swiss-army knife. You just never know where he’s going to line up. He can be used as a nickel corner against a slot receiver or he’s in the box as a linebacker hovering around the line of scrimmage. Then, he’s playing back as that single high safety. I always say that every defense has that one guy you must account for at all times and this definitely applies to him.
He’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Troy Polamalu. Whenever I watch him play, I see so many flashes of Troy during his Steelers days. I see so many similarities between the two. Tyrann is a sparkplug amongst his defenses. He’s that heart and soul. I see him fitting in very nicely with the Saints. He gives them a piece that can be used all over the defense.
