Tyrann

Mathieu

Mathieu exited the Saints’ Week 2 game against the Cowboys due to calf cramps in the third quarter. Will Harris and Jordan Howden will see more opportunities while Mathieu is out.

Lattimore dealt with a hip injury all of training camp but managed to play in Week 1 against the Panthers. He lands on the injury report again this week, with a hamstring injury now added to his designation. The 28-year-old continues to be the Saints’ top corner, but Kool-Aid McKinstry will need to step up if Lattimore misses time. Safety Tyrann Mathieu (heel) also missed practice, denting the Saints’ secondary to start the week.

Mathieu has spent the last two seasons with the Saints, playing in all 34 regular season contests while totaling 166 tackles, 17 pass breakups, and seven interceptions. The former first-round pick continues to be at the top of his game despite heading into his 12th season and will be under contract with the team through 2025.

It’s no secret that the Saints have had issues staying under the cap in recent history. Mathieu is entering the last season of a three-year, $27 million deal, so it will be interesting to see if a reworked deal extends him, adds void years, or if some other salary cap gymnastics are done. The 31-year-old safety has started every game for the Saints since signing with the team, totaling seven interceptions in two seasons.

Tyrann Mathieu (foot) and S Marcus Maye (illness), both listed as questionable, are also expected to play. Hill was limited in practice throughout the week but is good to go for Week 8. Hill was playing a larger role in the offense with Juwan Johnson sideline for a few games, but Johnson is back, limiting the ceiling of the versatile tight end.

Mathieu had been limited in practice all week leading up to the Saints’ Thursday game. The short week may be why the Saints were cautious with Mathieu’s foot, but after three straight limited practices, Mathieu is officially listed as questionable to suit up against the Jaguars for Week 7.

The move clears $4.7 million in cap space for the Saints, who are $30 million over the cap. New Orleans also restructured the contracts of SS Marcus Maye, OLs Erik McCoy and Ryan Ramczyk and kicker Wil Lutz.

Mathieu had missed a week a camp but now returns to join a secondary that was already shining in practice. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that the secondary has already been “perhaps the best group in camp.” Mathieu will only add to that strength. The Saints ranked third in EPA allowed per dropback in 2021, behind only the Bills and Cowboys. They also ranked fourth in dropback success rate and second in Pro Football Focus’ coverage grades. They have potential to be a truly stifling secondary in 2022.

The contract details are unknown and the deal is unlikely to be made official until after 4 PM eastern on May 2, after which free agents no longer count against the compensatory draft pick formula. Mathieu turns 30 in May, but his departure from the Chiefs had as much to do with their cap situation as his age. He was a critical component of the Chiefs’ defense since joining them in 2019. The Saints ranked second in Pro Football Focus’ coverage grades last season and Mathieu’s presence should help the Saints maintain an elite level of play on the backend.

Still unsigned post-draft, Mathieu represents one of the very few difference-making players that have lasted this long into free agency. The Saints have a hole at Malcolm Jenkins’ old position that they haven’t really filled to this point and didn’t touch in the draft. This is a logical fit of team and need. Mathieu has also been linked to the Eagles recently.