Would The Bucs Chase Tyrann Mathieu In Free Agency?
February 22nd, 2022
Coveted?
The free agency buffet opens in 20 short days and Joe finds a lot of Bucs fans are thinking small.
Tampa Bay has bold ownership with a bold head coach nearing his 70th birthday. There’s a ton of urgency at One Buc Palace, especially now that the Bucs had a chance to feast on the Super Bowl victory buffet.
So Joe expects a couple of major moves this offseason rather than just general manager Jason Licht trying hard to re-sign his own free agents and patiently working to find a quarterback as he sits tight in his draft slot.
Hard-hitting safety Jordan Whitehead is a pending free agent as is injury-prone cornerback Carlton Davis. The duo could command nearly $20 million per season combined. Joe likes those guys, but maybe the Bucs would prefer Pro Bowl safety and Bucco Bruce Arians friend Tyrann Mathieu for $15 million and a rookie cornerback competing for the whole left by Davis?
Mattieu, 29, is incredibly versatile and grew up in Todd Bowles’ scheme in Arizona with Arians.
Perhaps the Bucs see durable Mathieu as the shot of adrenaline their defense needs, and as an ideal mentor for dynamic young Antoine Winfield, Jr.?
Joe wouldn’t cry about this all-in kind of move.
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:07 am
I am all for the Honey Badger
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:11 am
Honey Badger don’t give a F*CK
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:17 am
I love Mattieu….but my love is not that big if we have to pay 15mm,,rather go with Whitehead, that I think he is really good, and probably cheaper…I think we should spend the money on CG and the offensive line, whomever the QB is…
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:18 am
Tyrann would be a hell of a pick-up, but he’s a free safety. Jordan is a strong safety. I’d prefer to bring Whitehead and his bone crushing ways back than see if Tyrann can replicate it.
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:20 am
absolutely!
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:22 am
Go with Whitehead & a rookie CB if Davis isn’t signed….spend the $15 mil elsewhere…..
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:25 am
lol…. we have $3M of cap space with $75M of players to sign… even if we sign all of our guys we still have very obvious weaknesses on the defensive line and wide receiver. NO THANKS.
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:27 am
Tyrann plays Winfield’s position generally. Winfield is still on his rookie deal obviously. Whitehead would cost approximately 50% of what Mathieu would. I don’t see the logic in any of this.
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:27 am
I like whitehead for the low
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:30 am
In Bowles scheme the secondary is useless without consistent pass rushing/pressure. We witnessed that from the moment JPP started having the shoulder issues. For the purposes of what we do, i’m okay with starting Dean and Bunting….using whatever money we have available for Davis/Whitehead and trying to secure another pass rusher or two. Without help for Shaq, we are forced to blitz which works great when our offense is ringing up point but looks completely incompetent when we are desperate for a stop.
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:30 am
Always like to see our own good players come back.
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:32 am
I think the Badger can play any position. Need to keep Whitehead for sure. In nickel mostly now, so certainly a spot for him as top 5 DB on team.
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:42 am
Bruce, I believe you’re right but as I said we already have Winfield. And we can agree that everyone wants to keep Whitehead who will come at a pretty good price. And don’t forget that we also have Edwards who is a ball hawk. Would always love to add another great player but financially I don’t see how that fits into our budget.
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:42 am
No. We talked about this before AWJr came out and thank God we didn’t pay the price. Resign Whitehead!!! With Dean and SMB, Davis can be nothing but overrated for his price. And how long do you people think Arians is going to be around???
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:47 am
Would seem strange to go for a big signing like this.. safety is one of our strengths.. would rather resign whitehead (although he may be mad about not being in final play). Edwards and Winfield both good young players and Whitehead was one of our best players last year
February 22nd, 2022 at 9:50 am
The Bucs will have plenty of Cap space they can Create over 60million by reworking Deals which I’m sure they are doing i know JL is doing everything he can to get a QB they know there window for another SB is Now there set up for future as well but they don’t want to wait Bucs will make Big moves this off-season
February 22nd, 2022 at 10:07 am
Why would you do this whitehead and Mathieu don’t even play the same position and whitehead is younger and bowles is all about stopping the run game and whitehead is a beast at that. They are going to tag Davis and try the sign whitehead longterm.
February 22nd, 2022 at 10:30 am
I prefer to keep whitehead as I would think he may be cheaper but even if he walks, I am very confident in Winfield and Edwards starting and using that money that we would have used on whitehead or Mathieu to make sure Godwin or Jensen don’t leave the building.
February 22nd, 2022 at 10:32 am
nah, another tj ward waiting to happen…just stay away… costco offers better deals
February 22nd, 2022 at 10:47 am
With what money?
February 22nd, 2022 at 10:56 am
I would prefer to sign a long term deal with Whitehead.
He is youngry and has a solid grasp on TB’s defense. He has improved every year.
I believe Whitehead is the best tackler on the team…
February 22nd, 2022 at 11:23 am
Nope , taking whiteheads physical play all day over tyrann… Whitehead is of the few that delivers bone crushing blows the LEGAL way… without flags, & that is a skill in todays game .
GoBucs!
February 22nd, 2022 at 11:26 am
Curious if anyone knows how many games Whitehead and Davis missed this year?
Seems like more than a few. Like them both BTW.
February 22nd, 2022 at 11:32 am
No. We are set at S if we sign Whitehead. Even without Whitehead, I’m sure Edwards and Winfield Jr. will be fine, while we get someone in the draft as depth.
With Honey Badger, no chance of luring Brady back. LOL.
February 22nd, 2022 at 11:43 am
9mil yes..above that no….we need elite cover cb ..we need elite edge rusher… we need qb and most will cost above 25mil…we need to have a plan at oline I prefer to move on from Cappa use skinnier for rg… now Jensen I’m unsure about if brady was coming back it be a no Brainer but with a new qb we might need to draft a center anywhere between 3rd n 5th rd…
Davis I like to keep but let’s be real he’s injury prone..does get burned time to time.
Jpp love him but what’s he value now.. he played threw a shoulder injury but maybe he shouldn’t of cause he did nothing.
Are secondary needs to add fire but Winfield is good
Whitehead is good at what he does offer him 6mil
Edward’s I assume we lose to free agency unless he wants to stay but I assume he wants to start.
Murphy n Dean both injured prone and which do you trust in #1 spot I say Murphy at this point.
We still have David n white…white has regressed..he missed more sacks then I can count…tackled less and covered poorly…
David is david…
Vea has to play more at least 80% suh is a hired gun idk if he will stay fir anything less then 10mil and idk he still deserves that much. Depending on if we can replace his production.
Goholston I offer him 4 mil n bonus.
I think Warren sapp right about the front 3 not getting after the qb enough.
February 22nd, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Not worth it. Plays too emotional.. things start going wrong and he loses his cool and plays even worse.
February 22nd, 2022 at 1:07 pm
No way, I do not like this guys on field attitude, I do not like the way he pouts and acts all Prissy when he get called for vagrant PI, Holding, Personal foul. For me Keep Whitehead. He has grown up in Bowls system too and is younger and a better tackler then this Hargreaves the 3rd.
February 22nd, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Whitehead and a CB the draft. Use the money elsewhere to keep other Buc FAs and Godwin.
February 22nd, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Yes please!
February 22nd, 2022 at 6:56 pm
“The free agency buffet opens in 20 short days”. Hmm. Golden Corral maybe.
February 22nd, 2022 at 7:07 pm
I’ll take a whitehead and Davis
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:28 am
Mike Edwards is still on the roster and is a million times cheaper than Honey Badger. He also happens to be the top playmaker in the Bucs secondary.
February 24th, 2022 at 1:44 am
Pass. Trade a 2nd for Dee Ford and extend him on a massive deal. Finally get Jameis back under center. Sit back and watch the fireworks. Dumpster fires are explosive but then so is diarrhea.