Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

The New Orleans Saints do not have a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. But they do have a third-, a fourth-and a fifth-rounder and if they're smart they'll use one of them to select Tyrann Mathieu.

Yes, he's small.

Yes, he's troubled.

And, yes, he hasn't played a snap in more than a year.

Mathieu is exactly the kind of player the Saints need.

The club's top priority continues to be a front-seven defender and everyone assumes they'll take one in the first round at No. 15. If so, then Mathieu makes perfect sense in Rounds 3 or 4, depending on how things shake out on draft weekend.

The Saints need defenders. They need play-makers. They need difference-makers.

Tyrann Mathieu said the Honey Badger persona may be back, but for now he's Tyrann: video part 2Tyrann Mathieu speaks to the media about regaining trust and playing in the NFL at the scouting combine.Watch video

Mathieu is all of the above. He's one of those rare cats that, in scouting parlance, can slow his heart rate in the heat of the moment. Anyone who's watched the Saints play the past few seasons knows how woefully lacking that trait has been on their defense. Darren Sharper had it. Sammy Knight had it. Ed Reed currently has it. And so does Mathieu.

Mathieu made more impact plays during his sophomore year at LSU than the entire Saints defense makes some seasons. He intercepted passes, forced fumbles, recovered fumbles and returned punts for touchdowns. Moreover, he didn't pad the stat sheet against pre-conference cupcakes. Mathieu played his best against the best. His highlight reel was made against the likes of Georgia, Florida, Oregon, West Virginia and Arkansas.

You simply don't find play-makers like that in the middle rounds of a draft. SEC Defensive Players of the Year and Heisman Trophy finalists normally are first-round picks.

Mathieu's off-field issues are well documented. Obviously, the Saints and every other NFL team must conduct vigorous background checks on him. They must be convinced that he's truly committed to rehab, to putting his issues behind him, and that he won't run afoul of the league's drug policy in a year or two. If there's even a hint of a red flag, they need to pass.

But by most accounts, Mathieu is doing and saying all of the right things these days. He's finally holding himself accountable and admirably facing his problems head-on.

"Everyday, it's a process," Mathieu said Sunday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I'm not saying that I'm totally there, but I am taking strides everyday to be the best person that Tyrann can be."

He added: "My best friend right now is honesty. I want (NFL teams) to be able to trust me. I'm not totally asking them to trust me right now. What I have asked is for them to give me an opportunity to play the game."

The Saints have taken risks on players with character issues. Carl Nicks had off-field issues but the club felt comfortable investing a fifth-round pick on him in the 2008 draft. Nicks never was a problem off the field and blossomed into a multi-time Pro Bowler on it.

Tyrann Mathieu said he's not totally focused on football, it's "more about the person": videoFormer LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine Sunday.Watch video


Besides, the Saints are a perfect fit for Mathieu in many ways. In New Orleans, he'd enjoy a strong support group of family and friends off the field. In the Saints, Mathieu would find a locker room of veteran leaders to lean on and learn from. Jabari Greer, Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper are the kinds of guys who can help keep Mathieu parked at the corner of straight and narrow. And new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would love his toughness and swagger.

Moreover, Mathieu would fill an immediate need as the team's nickel corner or dime back. And he'd provide insurance for Darren Sproles on punt and kickoff returns.

"He's an intriguing guy," said NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock, who sees Mathieu as a fourth-round pick. "My gut tells me he's a better football player than he is an athlete."

Some teams undoubtedly will question Mathieu's official height (5 feet 8 ½) and weight (186 pounds). And the skepticism will be heightened if he clocks a slow time in the 40-yard dash Tuesday.

In the case of Mathieu, size doesn't matter. His measurables didn't hold him back at LSU and they won't in the NFL. Fact is, most of the players Mathieu faced on Saturdays at LSU are now playing on Sundays in the NFL.

Atlanta's Brent Grimes (5-9, 177) or Minnesota's Antoine Winfield (5-8, 176) are similarly built and both are Pro Bowlers.


Mathieu, like Winfield, is a football player -- plain and simple. Put him on the field and he'll make an impact, whether it's at cornerback, nickel back or free safety. He played all three spots at LSU and thrived at each. In the one game he started at safety, he recorded eight tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered another and returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown in a win against Arkansas.

"They can watch a whole lot of film on me," Mathieu said "I make plays. Height has very little to do with it when you're playing the game of football."

Indeed, if Mathieu is still on the board when the Saints select in the third and fourth rounds, they must consider taking him. He'd be the kind of mid-round impact defender that has mysteriously eluded them over the years.

The Saints' strong history of identifying and drafting impact talents in the mid- and late draft rounds has been largely limited to offensive and special teams players: Jahri Evans, Marques Colston, Carl Nicks, Jermon Bushrod, Zach Strief and Thomas Morstead. The one defender who would qualify as a late-round steal in the Sean Payton era was Rob Ninkovich and the Saints cut him.

Mathieu would have a chance reverse that disturbing trend. The Honey Badger will be a sweet mid-round pick for some NFL team. If his sins are truly behind him, Mathieu would make a great Saint.

Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu | NOLA.com

Re: Article: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

no doubt the kid plays tall. may go sooner than he thinks. remember randy moss. a Minnesota, or oakland type team will scoop the badger in the third.he could teach jenkins how to angle to the dangle to the ball if u ask me.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

It's a gamble. He doesn't have the size or height for the NFL, but someone may get a gamer for the right price depending on where he falls in the draft.

Trust me, when staring down the barrel of a gun from the owner and fans to succeed, and considering draft day histories of many NFL teams (not just the Saints), picking up a kid who DID NOT play a down last season in college because he twice failed drug tests and 1 million second chances is really hard to justify when shelling out the BIG BUCKS!

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

i have to agree with u halo but i don't have to LIKE it.:lolup:

I think someone would spend the night in Jackson Square if a "problem child" is drafted after what we had to endure last year....

If he plays lights out you look like the hero, if he plays average someone will take a pounding.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Agreed.
It's totally a gamble, for any NFL GM to pick him up!

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Too much risk. If he went undrafted and we got him as a camp body then go for it. I wouldn't blow a pick on a risk kid during a rebuild year.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Lots of words here, but they're not making me feel it. Maybe as a UFA...

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Yea sure Tyran Mathieu in an undrafted situation would be a value worth trying but not a 6th rounder i would rather a corner like Robert Alford he's a local small school standout that could actually turn into a shut down guy unlike Mathieu plus Alford has even better return skills! But also look at Blidi Wre Wilson, Desmond Trufant, or Leon McFadden in mid rounds #WHODAT #SECONDAY and of course #PASSRUSH

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I WISH TYRAN MATHIEU WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS OPPORTUNITY AT THE COMBINE TO SHOW HE'S STRONGER THAN HE LOOKS. 4 Reps seriously that shows he hasn't been working all that hard in weight room signs of a lingering laziness from no football structure the past year. I WISH HE WAS STONGER SO IF HE WAS A SAINT HE COULD HELP IN TUN SUPPORT!

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I WISH TYRAN COULD HELP IN RUN SUPPORT BUT WITH 4 REPS @ 225 shows significant weakness or lack of work ethic one of the two so either way its a red flag in run support.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I think this is a typical homer article. No one outside of this area would be making a pitch like that.

It's one thing to get busted for weed once, but to get caught multiple times when there is so much on the line, you have to be a complete and total knucklehead. I say no knuckleheads allowed.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Yall have to remember he is a honey badger, they dont give a sh!t and they take what they want. That is their M.O. Honey badgers dont learn from thier mistakes, they are not genetically evolved to do so. They do what they want, when they want, and how they want to do it, no matter the consequences because there are no consequences.

You see, that word does not even compute in the badgers mind, so ask yourself this questions fans, owners, coaches, do you want a honey badger in your locker room?

Honey badger=Locker room cancer

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I agree. I was a FAN when he was playing at LSU. The kid was a play maker, plain and simple. But this whole weed thing just got nuts. Like you said, with so much on the line, you couldn't just not do it? Definition of a moron!

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

what risk... he is a great talent and at worst we are talking about losing a 3rd rounder... lol

As far as his size goes... it wont make him any worse than Jenkins or Harper, arguably the two worst cover safeties in the NFL. So ill say it again, what risk? ? ? We can only get better lol

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

You're right. If he didn't go to LSU, not one single person would be talking about us drafting him.

Don't want him.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I disagree Danno. We all should know I am the biggest LSU supporter on this board(more than I am a Saints fan)... but if you look at the tape and how big of an impact he made on the biggest stage of college football, regardless of what school he went to, he deserves the consideration he's getting for a mid round pick.

I don't see an issues of putting him within the likes of Antoine Winfield and/or better than the likes of Bob Sanders. Coming out of college, regarding the likes of Bob Sanders who was a second round pick, there's no comparison if we're talking about production on center stage.

Whether anyone believes this or not, this is absolutely with no bias. I have no issue evaluating a player from any conference or any team. Not a single person can take away what Mathieu did for LSU. To be even considered for the Heisman as a cornerback, it speak volumes.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I don't see it happening but the guy is a play maker but Tyran needs to get away from New Orleans and start fresh.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Papz, I'm an LSU/SEC Fan and I gotta tell you as a Saints Fan, don't want him and his game is not suited to the pro game; think Reggie Bush...

In college, you can outrun most of the competition; in the pros, well, you just had a former seventh round, now maybe third round pick offensive tackle, 6' 5", 306# run a forty time of 4.71!

And so it comes down to size and he's gonna get clobbered; remember the NFL passing game rules...

Heisman Perspective: Danny Wuerffel (God Bless Him!) won...

Heisman Perspective: Charles Woodson won out over Peyton Manning?!?

I'm not busting chops, it's just the Heisman is a F***ING JOKE as far as I'm concerned and is little more than a sports trivia category...

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Get him!

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

No.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I really liked him when he was playing for LSU and the football talent is undoubtly there. I you would just consider that I would love to have him. But all the off the field issues scares me. We can't afford a 3rd or 4th round pick on a guy that might get suspended for drug violations or what not the second week of the season.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Maybe with the 6th and definitely if he somehow goes undrafted, but there probably are better risk/reward picks out there than him.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I'm thinkin' he'd be a better match for Denver or Seattle if you know what I mean....

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

if he is there in the fourth you have to think about it long and hard. in my book the fifth round would be hard not to pull the trigger.

i think he would be instant impact on special teams.

the sixth ? you really have to not trust the kid if you did not take him

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I think that's a bad example. Reggie Bush has been a productive NFL player. I don't have a worldly view on Mathieu... but there's not reason why he can't be a productive nickel back in this league with a little bit of upside for more.

I don't see why you view it like that. It acknowledges the best players in college football... it's an honor for those young men to be considered. One got drafted and played a few seasons and the other is a first ballot Hall of Famer. Like any other award, it's not a perfect science.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I see him as a return man. He is too small to play DB in the NFL in my opinion.
His stats from 2011 has him with only 11 passes defended in 13 games. I just don't see him matching up well with Julio Jones, Roddy White, Vincent Jackson and the rest of the 6'4" receivers in the league. If he goes undrafted, sure take a look at him but I wouldn't draft him.
Tyrann Mathieu 2011 Game Log | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

He's not going undrafted. Besides the weak output on the bench, he's tearing up the DB drills.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

He strikes me as someone that has played on natural ability and skill... His skills and ability have been greater than the college athletes he has faced... That being said the NFL will be different and a work ethic is required most of the time to excel.

I am not familiar with his work ethic but I have trouble fitting substance abuse into a training regimen.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I don't care what anyone says. This guy is gonna be a playmaker in the NFL! I've been lobbying for this guy for months. Take him in the 3rd or 4th! He's fast,tough,and has a keen DB instinct. As for his off field antics...whoop-dee-doo! The kid was in a college environment and was thrust into the national spotlight. He's only human and with everyone projecting the "don't care" persona on him it's only natural that he started to embrace it. Also I would bet that there are quite a few NFL players that smoke marijuana. I'm not condoning it or justifying it but I do think that the media has blown his so called "drug abuse" out of proportion. This guy is a natural playmaker and I would bet my last dollar that he will be an impact player somewhere. Hopefully with us.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Sean Payton ALWAYS has room on the roster for a handful of head cases or problem children -- guys like Shockey, Hargrove, Hartley, Bush (distractions), Akiem Hicks, and a few others. Even Courtney Roby on special teams is kind of a borderline head case sometimes, which is why I love the guy.

But Payton only keeps a few of those types of guys around, three or four a year, below critical mass, so the inmates never run the asylum. And to be a Saint, they can have a past, but they have to have mended their ways.

A "drug" guy like Antony Hargrove, he was a gamble for the team -- but when he came here he had rounded a corner on that, and everyone who knew him personally, KNEW that he had rounded the corner on it, that he'd grown as a person, seen the light, learned his lesson, etc. etc.

Honey Badger just doesn't seem to me like there's been ANY awareness or reconciliation on his part, about the weed thing. So I don't see it happening here with the Saints. Some other team might take him. But there's no question he has hurt his chances and cost himself a lot of money, with those off-the-field mistakes.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Why is Akim Hicks & Roby listed as a "head case"? IMO head case is someone that gets in trouble with the law over and over or gets into it with teammates or coaches. Never heard of any of that happening with either of these guys.

As far as Tyrann goes...I think a lot will have to do with the lockerroom/coaching situation he's in. To me @ LSU...being THE guy on campus and pretty much having free reign was the reason why he got into so much trouble. Guys like to play for Miles because he's a players coach, but when you're dealing with guys that are pretty much still children you have to reign them in, have stucture and teach them their actions have consequences. Miles gave Tyrann chance after chance and each time he blew it. I put that on both parties tho because Les didn't put his foot down the FIRST time he got in trouble.

When you have a lockerroom full of GROWN MEN, and being coached by a strict no nonsense coach it can help a guy like Tyrann. Teach him that being a professional means you have to be accountable for your actions off the field as well as on.

I actually think Hargrove is a good example even though he had already turned the corner with his substance abuse. Hargrove came into the league and seemed to have no guidance in his previous locker rooms to keep him from turning to much harder drugs that Tyrann has done. Then being out of the NFL and getting the correct rehabbing he needed and coming back to a place like NOLA where its easy to get caught up in the that party year round life style. He stayed the course and didn't let temptation get to him.

If anything if we were to draft Tyrann, I think having a former Saint that has had a much harder time with substance abuse, come and talk to him every once and a while and show him how the road he took effected his overall career greatly, how he worked hard to get back to better himself and get back to the NFL, and then was blessed by the Saints giving him a second chance and winning a SB. But overall it took years off his career and he lost a lot of money.

I'm rooting for him wherever he goes though.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

On the positive side, all Saints players would have ready access to the best weed in the city.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

If we had all 7 picks, or even extra picks I'd be OK with taking a shot on him with a mid-rounder. He is a fiesty lil' bastaad! He'd also help out immediately on special teams, relieving Sproles from those duties.

But we only have 5 picks and I think we need to make them count. I'd prefer we stay away from red-flag prospects this year.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Could he really do any worse than other 3rd or 4th rounds picks we've made? Al Woods and Johnny Patrick come to mind.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Running the 40 yard dash in 4.50s is pretty good for a guy always considered a better football player than athlete.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

Certainly a risk. He has talent on the field but has proven he makes poor choices off the field. Do we want to fill his pockets with alot of money and trust he does the right thing when he is not under the Saint organization's thumb? History would prove otherwise. Of course, how many NFL players are "role models" anyway? Could he be a productive NFL star? Absolutely. But, do we take the risk? If Micky and Sean think so.

Re: Why the New Orleans Saints should draft Tyrann Mathieu
 

I just want bigger DBs because the Saints have enough of the smaller variety already.

And, like Danno, I don't want to risk any of the limited number of picks this year on players with red flags.