Saints Need More From Highly Touted Safeties in 2023

After disappointing production in their first years with the team, New Orleans is counting on a big year from their duo of playmakers at safety.

The New Orleans Saints lost both their starting safeties after the 2021 season. Malcolm Jenkins retired, while Marcus Williams signed with Baltimore as a free agent. The Saints responded by adding highly regarded free agents Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu. 

Maye was taken four picks ahead of Williams by the New York Jets in the 2017 NFL Draft. In five seasons as a Jet, Maye intercepted 6 passes, broke up 24 others, forced five fumbles, and recorded 3.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. This was despite missing 10 games in 2018 with various injuries and another 11 contests in 2021 because of a torn Achilles. 

A New Orleans native and star at LSU, Mathieu was a third-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. He spent his first nine seasons with the Cardinals, Texans, and Chiefs. Over that span he had 26 interceptions, broke up 76 passes, forced or recovered 12 fumbles, collected 10 sacks, recorded 41 tackles for loss, and scored three defensive touchdowns. 

Both safeties came to the Saints with reputations as playmakers. After a promising start to the year, the pair didn't produce the results that most expected.

Tyrann Mathieu - 2022

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) is tackled by New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) after a catch. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY

Mathieu missed just three defensive snaps for the Saints last season and played a career-high 1,129 defensive plays. While his durability wasn't an issue, his effectiveness was at times. 

Early in the year, Mathieu was the poster child for a defense that tackled very poorly. He was credited with eight missed tackles, but was often out of position or took bad angles to the ball in pursuit. In coverage, Mathieu allowed 62.7% completion percentage and three scores when targeted. However, he was often a step late or showed poor anticipation in deep support, leading to several big plays early in the season. 

Mathieu finished with a career-high 91 tackles, with his 64 solo stops leading the defense. He also had a team-high 3 interceptions, broke up eight passes, forced a fumble, and recorded a sack to go along with three tackles for loss.

Mathieu, now 31, looked much more comfortable in the defense and played much better toward the end of the year. A versatile defensive back, Mathieu has been effective in the box, as a slot corner, and has the range for single and double-high safety alignments. Look for him to be much more involved in the defense as he enters Year 2 in the scheme. 

Marcus Maye - 2022

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is defended by New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye (6) and cornerback Paulson Adebo (29). Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Unlike Mathieu, Maye did have injury issues in 2022. He missed seven games, including three straight on two separate occasions, mostly because of rib and shoulder issues. When he was on the field, Maye was often a non-factor.

Often alternating with Mathieu as the deep safety on early downs, Maye wasn't often tested in man coverage. However, he also struggled with positioning on downfield throws, rarely showing the range that made him so highly coveted early in his career. While physical and aggressive when in the tackle box, Maye also found himself out of position against the run too often.

In 10 games played, Maye recorded 42 solo tackles and 60 total stops while forcing one fumble. He had three games with at least nine tackles, but didn't have a single stop for loss or QB pressure. In coverage, he broke up just two passes (both in the same game) and didn't have an interception for the second straight year. 

The 30-year-old Maye has a court hearing in late July for an alleged DUI while with the Jets. If found guilty, he'll also face a disciplinary suspension from the NFL. He'll also need to avoid the injury bug that's plagued him in recent years to work up a chemistry with Mathieu. 

New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans had just seven interceptions in 2022, second fewest in the NFL. They ranked second against the pass, but will simply need more game-changing plays from their secondary. They'll also need better run support from their safeties for a defense that plummeted to 24th against the run last season. 

While losing Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins affected the defense, the training camp trade of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson over a contract dispute was a bigger blow to the defense. Still, the Saints will need much more than the combined four turnovers, three tackles for loss, and 10 passes broken up than they got from Mathieu-Maye tandem in 2022.

We should see much better production from both players. Maye and Mathieu will each be more comfortable with their second year in the defensive scheme and their chemistry with one another should be more evident. 

They'll have opportunities for big plays. The Saints have a potentially elite trio of corners in Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor, and Paulson Adebo. Those aggressive corners will be even more effective with playmakers at safety behind them. The 2023-24 New Orleans Saints are counting on it.