The New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills enter the 2025 season with drastically different expectations, and this could lead to a Tyrann Mathieu trade. Once considered to be one of the game’s elite defensive backs, the former third-round pick has slowed down in recent years but remains a solid starter. Starting and appearing in 17 games last year, Mathieu finished the season with three interceptions, seven passes defended, 62 tackles, and a 60.5 PFF grade, the 66th-best mark out of 98 eligible safeties.
Now entering his age-33 season, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder believes the Saints should trade Tyrann Mathieu to the Buffalo Bills for whatever they can get.
“The Buffalo Bills are one of the few teams that have close to a complete roster, though safety remains a question mark,” Holder writes. “…so, if the rebuilding Saints are willing to put the 33-year-old on the trade block, Brandon Beane should give Mickey Loomis a call.”
Bills, Saints Connected In Tyrann Mathieu Trade Talks
The New Orleans Saints have every reason to trade Tyrann Mathieu to the highest bidder, even if it only results in a late-round pick. After years of kicking the can down the road and trying to tread water without Drew Brees, the bill has finally come due. Derek Carr’s retirement was the straw that broke the camel’s back, forcing the Saints and first-year head coach Kellen Moore to embrace a rebuild.
This season should be all about finding players who could be foundational pieces for the future, and Mathieu doesn’t fit that bill. As mentioned above, he’s still a decent player, but he’s on the wrong side of 30 and will likely be done with his career by the time the Saints are ready to compete. Even if Tyrann Mathieu can fend off Father Time, he’ll be a free agent after this season, so the Saints should trade him while they can still get something of value for his services.
Will the Bills Do This?
The Buffalo Bills have one of the best teams in football, and superstar quarterback Josh Allen can take any team on a deep playoff run. However, they play in an incredibly competitive conference and need every edge they can get to overthrow the Kansas City Chiefs and the rest of the AFC.
As of this posting, Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin are penciled in to start at safety. Both players are below-average options, and a Tyrann Mathieu trade would improve the secondary. Matheiu’s versatility would be especially beneficial for this team, as he has the ability to play both safety spots at an adequate level. While he won’t single-handedly win games for this team, he could improve a position of weakness.
Additionally, a Tyrann Mathieu trade shouldn’t cost anything more than a sixth- or seventh-round pick. While he can be a short-term fix, his age and expiring contract limit his market value. Basically, this is a low-risk, medium-reward move that Buffalo should make if the Saints are open to it.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – Imagn Images
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