Should the Rams make a push for Tyrann Mathieu in free agency?
[
theramswire.usatoday.com]
Cameron DaSilva
After assembling a star-studded roster last year, the Los Angeles Rams continued adding studs in free agency this offseason by signing both Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner – two of the top players available at their respective positions.
What’s one more?
Tyrann Mathieu is the top safety – and maybe the best DB – still out there in free agency, and the Rams could use some help in their secondary. Even after signing Robinson and Wagner, the Rams still have about $7 million left in salary cap space.
Should they use that to bring in Mathieu? Certainly, Mathieu will be looking for more than $7 million per year, but the Rams could structure his contract similarly to Wagner’s, with the linebacker’s 2022 cap hit being just $2.5 million despite his deal averaging $10 million per year in base value.
The question is whether the Rams would want to commit to Mathieu for several years down the line, given all the big contracts they already have. And whether Mathieu would be open to taking a discount, which would probably need to happen considering other teams pursuing him will be able to offer more.
Ian Rapoport didn’t say the Rams are interested in Mathieu, but he did mention them when discussing the Honey Badger’s free-agent decision.
“The Saints make a lot of sense. They don’t have a ton of money to spend, but they make a lot of sense. The Eagles do, as well. Maybe the Rams get in the mix? We’ll see. They’ve become a destination for veterans maybe not looking to cash in, but who might want to win,” Rapoport said.
There’s no question Mathieu would help the Rams. He’s a true ball hawk, always making plays on defense – whether it’s by breaking up passes or coming up and making stops against the run. In the Rams defense, he could line up at both safety and in the slot, two positions he excels at.
And Los Angeles needs help at both spots. Taylor Rapp struggled last season alongside Jordan Fuller, and Fuller has had trouble staying healthy. Darious Williams left in free agency and while he wasn’t the Rams’ slot defender, he allowed Jalen Ramsey and David Long Jr. to move around the formation.
Mathieu would bring added versatility to the defense, which the Rams could use in the secondary. They shouldn’t go above their financial means to sign him, but gauging his interest in joining the defending Super Bowl champions is worth a shot.
It’s fun to imagine a defense that features Ramsey, Aaron Donald, Wagner and Mathieu – and with Les Snead, you just never know what’s possible.
