Tyrann Mathieu signs 1-year deal with Houston Texans
By Matt Conner
The Houston Texans came out on top in the Tyrann Mathieu sweepstakes by signing the safety to a one-year contract worth $7 million.
Despite the rumors that the Kansas City Chiefs could be a prime contender for Tyrann Mathieu’s services, the former Arizona Cardinals safety signed a 1-year deal with the Houston Texans.
From the moment that the Cardinals surprised the NFL by releasing the 25-year-old safety on Wednesday in a cost-cutting move, several teams immediately began to express interest. From the Green Bay Packers to both New York teams, the Jets and Giants, Mathieu had no shortage of suitors, including the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brett Veach, the team’s general manager, was even asked about Mathieu’s availability and said that he was interested if the team could scrape the money together. Instead, Mathieu goes to an AFC rival to help bolster a miserable secondary that plays behind one of the NFL’s best pass rushing attacks, when healthy, with Whitney Mercilus and J.J. Watt.
As for the Chiefs, their search for safety help continues into the weekend and beyond after releasing Ron Parker. Eric Berry returns to the starting line-up next year after missing the entire season with an Achilles injury, but the middling and inconsistent play of Eric Murray and Dan Sorensen makes it clear the team will add something to the mix and it will likely be someone hoping to start opposite Berry. With a slow market and names like Tre Boston, Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, Morgan Burnett and more still available, there’s no shortage of veteran options.