It’s no secret the Baltimore Ravens need to shore up their defensive backfield that gave up the second most passing yards per game. With Marcus Williams most likely on his way out, the Ravens are left with Kyle Hamilton and a handful of solid but not great options at the other safety position.
And while Hamilton is a superstar in the making, he needs a reliable partner who can do a little bit of everything while he roams around and wreaks havoc. There just so happens to be a pretty good option down in New Orleans.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport just cooked up a potential trade scenario that sends three-time All-Pro Tyrann Mathieu of the Saints to the Ravens for a 2026 fifth-round pick. Yes, you read that correctly—a fifth-round pick... next year.
The Ravens should absolutely pull off this trade for Tyrann Mathieu
Davenport lays out the logic behind the deal, and honestly, it makes a ton of sense for both sides:
"Tyrann Mathieu will be 33 when the 2025 season begins. His last All-Pro nod came in 2020 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Simply put, he isn't the player he once was. But the LSU product is a versatile defensive back who can play multiple positions and posted a rock-solid passer rating against of 76.4 last season. Upgrading the league's second-worst pass defense from last season has to be right at the top of the Ravens' to-do list this spring. They should use every option available to do so, including a trade for a veteran upgrade at safety."
Nobody is saying Mathieu is still in his prime. But the "Honey Badger" has remained durable, playing in every game since 2021, and he still knows how to make plays. 62 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, and a couple of forced fumbles last season is a great starting point. Forcing turnovers, especially in big games, has seemingly eluded Baltimore, and Mathieu's knack for making big plays would be huge.
More importantly, his versatility would be a perfect fit in Baltimore. The Ravens love defensive backs who can line up in different positions, and pairing Mathieu with Hamilton would give them one of the most dynamic safety duos in the NFL.
Financially, the Saints are on the salary cap struggle bus—they’re nearly $47 million over the limit and need to clear space. Moving on from Mathieu won’t come close to solving all their problems by any means, but it’s a logical cut-their-losses move for a team that's not competitive.
For the Ravens, this is the perfect counterpunch to losing Marcus Williams. Instead of overpaying for a younger, unproven free agent or drafting a guy who's not ready to start day one, they’d get a play-making veteran who can instantly revitalize the secondary while also serving as a mentor.
If this deal is actually in play, general manager Eric DeCosta should make it happen. The Ravens need a ball-hawk and turnover guy, and Mathieu just makes too much sense.