Go check out the kid who wrote this article.  Amateur writer who does nice work.

https://section215.com/2022/03/30/philadelphia-eagles-tyrann-mathieu/

Oddsmakers link Tyrann Mathieu to the Philadelphia Eagles

by Matty Breisch 16 minutes ago Follow @MattyBreisch

On Wednesday, March 30th, long-time Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins called it a career. One of the best free agent signings of the last decade and a key cog in the team’s Super Bowl-winning defense, Jenkins’ 12 year career in the NFL has come to an end, and he will now transition to the next phase of his life, presumably in the city that he made his adoptive home from 2014-19.

Does this directly affect the Eagles? No, not really, Jenkins hasn’t worn midnight green on the field since January of 2020, and the team doesn’t even run the same scheme that made him a three-time Pro Bowler. But Jenkins’ retirement does highlight the dire situation the Eagles find themselves in at the safety position, with only one member of their not particularly good 2021 pairing of Rodney McLeod and Anthony Harris signed up for another season this fall.

Could the Eagles opt to retain McLeod this fall and hope that a quality safety falls to them with one of their first four picks in the 2022 NFL Draft? You bet; that feels more and more likely with each passing week. Or the Eagles could throw caution to the wind and sign the biggest fish left on the open market, Tyran Mathieu, in the hopes of hot-shotting their defense from the middle of the pack to 2017-esque.

Will that happen? I mean, probably not, but hey, according to PFF Bet – via OddsChecker – the Philadelphia Eagles are +550 to secure the LSU legend’s services, so who knows?

Tyrann Mathieu would be a unique fit in the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense.

When you look up ‘versatile’ in the NFL dictionary, you get a picture of Tyrann Mathieu.

In 2021, the diminutive LSU defender played 438 snaps in the box, 280 snaps at free safety, 206 snaps in the slot, 23 snaps at perimeter cornerback, and even played 49 snaps deployed on the defensive line where he was presumably used as a blitzer. If the Kansas City Cheifs needed a play made in the secondary, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would turn to the player affectionately known as "The Honey Badger.”

In the Philadelphia Eagles’ scheme, Mathieu would presumably slot in at strong safety, where Anthony Harris had a similarly varied responsibility set that saw him play 387 snaps deployed deep, 340 snaps in the box, 140 in the slot, 10 at perimeter corner, and 20 more on the defensive line according to PFF. Harris had his best professional season as a free safety in Minnesota and could theoretically play either position in Jonathan Gannon’s defense this fall if a player like Mathieu were to be added to the defensive starting lineup alongside Haason Reddick and Kyzir White.

That’s the good news. The bad news? By all accounts, Gannon would like to run his defense from a two-deep safety shell, which probably wouldn’t be Mathieu’s schematic preference.

No, Mathieu is a lot like Malcolm Jenkins, who preferred to make an impact around the line of scrimmage. When tasked with tracking down opposing running backs, either in the run game or as a pass-catcher, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better defender and Mathieu even has the speed and coverage skills needed to neutralize traditional wide receivers from the slot.

In Jim Schwartz’s scheme, Mathieu’s game would have been an absolute X factor weapon like, well, like another Eagles safety with a similar moniker, but under Gannon? It’s harder to see Mathieu accepting a role that "strands” him a dozen yards off the line with the requirement to blanket half of the field and provide support versus the run on, say, two-thirds of his defensive snaps.

Now granted, maybe Mathieu is a big enough talent for Gannon to adjust his scheme to the talents of his players. Steven Nelson was more comfortable playing off the ball than press-man, and Gannon accommodated to that preference as best he could, so it’s entirely possible securing a supreme talent like Mathieu could prove worthy of a similar accommodation, but when you consider the veteran defensive back will be 30 when the season opens up, it’s hard to see him agreeing to a one-year, prove-it deal with a team like the Eagles when he could presumably secure a better chance to win with a team like the Los Angeles Rams or a more-lucrative opportunity with a team like the Indianapolis Colts who have money to burn and could overpay for a one-year rental.

Should the Philadelphia Eagles pursue a big-time talent at safety? Yes, yes, 1,000 times yes; the Eagles had one of the best safety tandems in the NFL when they won the Super Bowl in February of 2018 and would be wise to invest in the position again moving forward. Should they even pursue a safety with a bit more of a "strong” style of play even if they don’t perfectly fit the scheme Jonathan Gannon wants to play? Yes again, landing a player like Kyle Hamilton in the draft would be a fantastic get, as he’d be able to shut down opposing tight ends as a hybrid safety/weakside linebacker. But is Tyrann Mathieu the sort of player the Eagles would pay $8-12 million a season for the rights to employ? No, probably not. Unless his asking price is shockingly team-friendly, I personally wouldn’t bet on seeing the "Honey Badger” in midnight green this fall.

I don't see it. I don't think it fits with the approach this team is taking this year. I think he's too old and is going to get pretty good money this year. 

But hey they can't address all needs in the draft and so if they don't add a Safety then maybe they could make a move like this?

 

This guy on Twitter - he seems to bat maybe 50/50 with some of his "reports".  He's not a "blue check" and could just be some kid living in his Mom's basement, but just thought I'd post this here to see if anything comes to fruition.  He's probably one of those guys who throws crap at the wall in hopes something sticks and then boasts when he gets one right.

While I don't really see Mathieu wanting to sign here, I do believe the Eagles will make a move at Safety before the draft.  

Hard pass.  Why overpay to add a soon-to-be 30 year old to a team that has as many holes as we have and that needs to continue course in their youth movement?  It doesn't make sense.  If we were a more complete team and on the verge of being a legit contender, I could understand wanting to add him.  I could understand targeting Williams who is 5 years younger and had potential to be more of a long term fixture.  

1 hour ago, time2rock said:

Hard pass.  Why overpay to add a soon-to-be 30 year old to a team that has as many holes as we have and that needs to continue course in their youth movement?  It doesn't make sense.  If we were a more complete team and on the verge of being a legit contender, I could understand wanting to add him.  I could understand targeting Williams who is 5 years younger and had potential to be more of a long term fixture.  

Lurie said they are building for "now" and the future.  Last year he said we were in transition mode.  I think the team expects/wants to be competitive this year while also building for the future.  Mathieu, as long as it's not a multi-year big money deal, could help for this year and probably next year.  Mathieu on a 1 or 2 year "average" deal?  I'd take that.  It also wouldn't preclude them from taking a safety in the draft either (Harris is certainly replaceable). 

34 minutes ago, EaglesAddict said:

Lurie said they are building for "now" and the future.  Last year he said we were in transition mode.  I think the team expects/wants to be competitive this year while also building for the future.  Mathieu, as long as it's not a multi-year big money deal, could help for this year and probably next year.  Mathieu on a 1 or 2 year "average" deal?  I'd take that.  It also wouldn't preclude them from taking a safety in the draft either (Harris is certainly replaceable). 

I think it is a mistake to try to focus on both now and the future.  This team needs to focus on the future - if done properly we can be legitimately competitive again in 2 years.  I have a feeling Honey Badger is still available because he is looking to paid handsomely.  I would not commit the kind of money it will likely take to sign him. IMO better to add talent with the pool of draft picks we have stocked, continue to fix the cap, and then add missing pieces in 1-2 years when we are closer.  

3 minutes ago, time2rock said:

I think it is a mistake to try to focus on both now and the future.  This team needs to focus on the future - if done properly we can be legitimately competitive again in 2 years.  I have a feeling Honey Badger is still available because he is looking to paid handsomely.  I would not commit the kind of money it will likely take to sign him. IMO better to add talent with the pool of draft picks we have stocked, continue to fix the cap, and then add missing pieces in 1-2 years when we are closer.  

I know what you're saying, but I don't wholly agree.  With Mathieu (to me), it'll more depend on if his contract would be a hindrance or not.  I'm sure he's looking for a max deal, but the longer he sits, the more likely that money is coming down.  If it was a deal that, at most, the Eagles could get out of after 2 years, it might be a move that could pay off.

As a fan, I don't want to sit here and hope we'll be competitive in 2 years while we build.  Nothing is guaranteed from year to year.  Injuries, draft picks panning out, etc.  We could try it that way, but what's to say it'll work?  There's so much volatility from year to year that really, there's no reason not to try to compete each and every season.  That doesn't mean go buck wild in free agency, but rather make smarter/shorter/cheaper moves that can pay off.  

With that said, my only issue with trying to compete every year is that it can put you in QB purgatory.  Typically the best way to get a blue chip franchise QB is to have a top slot in a draft that has one.  But, can't get that draft positioning if you're "competitive" and always end up with a .500 record (not good but not bad enough to get a top slot).  But again, you just don't know if any prospective top QB will actually pan out either. Truly is a crapshoot.  

 

Gut says he signs with the Colts.

9 minutes ago, time2rock said:

Gut says he signs with the Colts.

That feels like a good fit both sides. I just don't think we make any sense for him and I don't think he's what we need right now either. 

11 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

That feels like a good fit both sides. I just don't think we make any sense for him and I don't think he's what we need right now either. 

Agreed on both.