Why One NFL Writer Believes Patriots Should Pursue Tyrann Mathieu

The already-wild NFL offseason has a chance to get even crazier if Tyrann Mathieu hits the open market.

Mathieu has been a star for the Arizona Cardinals since entering the league in 2013, becoming one of the NFL’s best safeties in short time. However, with the Cardinals going through a series of changes, there’s a chance Mathieu could be looking for a new home in the near future.

The talented safety signed five-year, $62.5 million deal with Arizona in the summer of 2016. As a result of the contract’s terms, Mathieu will be guaranteed $18.8 million if he’s still on the Cardinals’ roster come March 16. With a lofty payday awaiting, Arizona has asked Mathieu to take a pay cut, and the 25-year-old apparently isn’t very keen on the idea.

With this in mind, CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson named five teams that likely would have strong interest in Mathieu if he were to become a free agent, one of which is the New England Patriots. While the Patriots aren’t exactly in dire need of safety help, Wilson laid out an explanation as to why Mathieu would fit in New England.

“Yes, the team is happy with Devon McCourty, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon, but again (say it with us), you can never have too many playmakers in the secondary,” Wilson writes. “Plus, Mathieu is versatile enough to play cornerback, safety and even inside linebacker in the subpackages. If he ends up in New England, Bill Belichick will undoubtedly find a way to maximize his talents.”

As Wilson notes, depth is a good problem to have. However, when it comes to adding marquee veterans, the Patriots likely would prioritize addressing actual areas of need. New England needs to bolster its linebacking corps ahead of the 2018 season, while offensive line and the pass rush also appear to be points of interest.

Although Mathieu to the Patriots kind of seems like a long shot, there’s still a chance New England adds a star defensive back this offseason. Richard Sherman soon will become a free agent after being released by the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, and the Pats seem like a natural fit for the veteran cornerback.