Baltimore Ravens: 3 reasons they must sign Tyrann Mathieu
3. Mathieu is easily the best option available:
This is kind of the year of the free agent safety. Landon Collins, Earl Thomas, Tashaun Gipson and Lamarcus Joyner just a handful of the players available. Collins is a strong safety who doesn’t fit with the Ravens as well. Thomas may be the best player but he would be just a short-term solution. You can go down the list and you won’t find a better option than Mathieu, who is the perfect fit for the Ravens. He is exactly what Don Martindale needs to take this defense into a new chapter. It’s a glaring need, he works well with Jefferson and he’s the best player. The case for the Ravens interest in Mathieu is easy to justify.
The Ravens know how hard it is to find a free safety in the NFL Draft. The best players the team has had at this position are Ed Reed, Rod Woodson and Eric Weddle. The Ravens missed horribly when they drafted Matt Elam out of Florida. The safety position is one of the more nuanced positions in the NFL and college talent doesn’t always translate in the NFL. When the Ravens cut Weddle, they knew they needed to replace him. Mathieu could easily have been part of the Ravens thinking. They can’t assume that a draft pick is the answer nor can they ask DeShon Elliott to fill Weddle’s shoes.
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This move would be a big splash in free agency and it would certainly be a statement made by Eric DeCosta. The Ravens have a job to fill and Mathieu should be the Plan A. The Ravens have to strive to be a balanced team. They will have to invest in the offense, but ignoring the defense isn’t the answer. This is a move that could make a scary secondary for the rest of the league to deal with. It’s a move the Ravens really have to attempt to make.