Kansas City Chiefs: The best free agent option to replace Tyrann Mathieu
There's a really good chance that safety Tyrann Mathieu isn't back with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. Kansas City would love to have Mathieu, the heart and soul of their defense, back next season. But Mathieu is going to land a hefty contract in free agency. The Chiefs are already working on extensions for […]
There's a really good chance that safety Tyrann Mathieu isn't back with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
Kansas City would love to have Mathieu, the heart and soul of their defense, back next season. But Mathieu is going to land a hefty contract in free agency.
The Chiefs are already working on extensions for offensive lineman Orlando Brown and wide receiver Tyreek Hill. It seems unlikely that they'll break the bank for the Honey Badger, instead opting to replace his production via free agency or the draft.
If they go that route, I think a suitable replacement for Mathieu would be Houston Texans safety Justin Reid.
Reid is a former third-round pick from Stanford that just turned 25. He's a similar player to Mathieu in that he's a good leader, good tackler, solid in run defense, and has decent ball skills. He's obviously not Mathieu, but he has a skill set that would play well in Kansas City's defense.
And he's not nearly as expensive.
Mathieu is looking at getting a contract worth around $15 to $18 million annually. Essentially, he's looking to be paid like a top safety in the NFL.
Reid, on the other hand, is projected to get a contract worth $21 million over three years. That's much more affordable for Kansas City.
Business is business. I know a lot of Chiefs fans want the Honey Badger back. And I get it — he's an important player for KC. But the franchise can't sacrifice financial flexibility in the future to bring back a soon-to-be 30 year old safety who could start declining in the near future.
Losing Mathieu would hurt, but the front office may decide it's the best way for Kansas City to proceed.
If that's the case, they should take a long look at Justin Reid.
Featured image via Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
