Veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu has a past connection with New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher.
Since the offseason has begun, numerous New York Giants writers and fans have brainstormed names to target in free agency. Positions to consider include the offensive line, the defensive side of the ball, as well as the quarterback position.
Now that safety Landon Collins is gone due to free agency, there’s one name in particular that the Giants could consider: Houston Texans FS Tyrann Mathieu.
Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes “The Honey Badger started all 16 games in 2018 for the second consecutive season, and his first year with the Texans was a success, showing he made good on betting on himself with a $7 million contract. Versatile, play-making safety — 13 career interceptions — might end up staying in Houston. He spent his first five NFL seasons in Arizona with Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher.”
Mathieu this past year with the Texans recorded 70 tackles and three sacks from the free safety position. He also notched two interceptions and eight passes defended.
Simply put, Mathieu is still a dominant player wherever he is on the field in his now-sixth year in the league.
The only problem is that the Giants would need to get a reliable strong safety to work alongside him. In the past few seasons, it’s been the opposite.
With Collins, they always had a strong safety to rely on. However, never a free safety that could perform well in the system. The past two seasons the Giants have dealt with Darian Thompson and Curtis Riley at the free safety position, lining up alongside Collins and CB Janoris Jenkins.
However, neither Thompson or Riley performed as well as the Giants had hoped they would.
Mathieu may not be too expensive either, which is great for Big Blue in this particular offseason. The Giants have $27 million in cap space and would need around $8-10 million for rookies and in-season emergencies.
