Report: New Orleans Saints Reach Contract Extension With Tyrann Mathieu

Saints reach contract extension with one of their defensive stars, per reports.

The New Orleans Saints are re-signing S Tyrann Mathieu, as first reported by NFL Insiders Josina Anderson and Nick Underhill of neworleans.football. Nick Underhill revealed that Mathieu's new contract is a two-year deal worth $13 million. 

John Hendrix of the Saints News Network reported on Thursday morning that the Saints were working to re-work Mathieu's contract, which was entering it's final year with three voided years added.

Mathieu's current deal has him set to count for just over $12 million against the cap this season from his original three-year, $27 million deal that he signed in 2022. He's technically on the last year of his deal due to the three void years that come into play between 2025-2027, but a reworked contract would presumably provide a bigger cap relief for the team and could spread out the financials more. 

(per John Hendrix @SaintsNews)

Mathieu's new contract allows the money to be spread out more, as John Hendrix indicated. This further helps the Saints to get under the salary cap before free agency officially begins on March 13.

A graduate of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans and collegiate star at LSU, Mathieu was a third-round choice in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He played the first nine years of a four-time Pro Bowl career with the Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs. 

New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) returns an interception for a touchdown against the New England Patriots. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY

During the offseason of 2022, the Saints brought Mathieu home by signing him to a three-year deal. In his first year with his hometown team, Mathieu had three interceptions, a team high, to go along with eight passes broken up, a sack, and three tackles for loss among 91 total stops.

Mathieu, who turns 32 in May, looked even more comfortable in the New Orleans defense last season. He intercepted four passes, tying for the team high and returning one for a touchdown, while breaking up nine throws and recording 75 tackles. 

With the pending release of S Marcus Maye, Tyrann Mathieu will be counted on in 2024. His veteran leadership and playmaking skills are crucial for one of the NFL's top defensive backfields.