Cardinals sign Tyrann Mathieu to five-year, $62.5 million contract

The Arizona Cardinals have agreed to a new five-year contract with star defensive back Tyrann Mathieu reportedly worth $62.5 million, $40 million of it guaranteed. The deal would make Mathieu the highest-paid safety in the NFL.

Despite the injury in 2015, Mathieu still put together a career year in 2015 with five interceptions, 17 passes defended and 80 tackles.

Mathieu is now recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in last season’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The overall value of the contract makes Mathieu the sixth highest-paid cornerback, while the guaranteed portion is the third-highest.

Mathieu has had his share of injury issues.

Not bad for a guy who was considered a character risk coming out of college and has dealt with injuries and has never played a full season.

He now is on the physically unable to perform list as he rehabilitates from his second knee surgery in three years.

That being said, being ranked as the top safety in the only video game with real National Football League players is something I am sure Tyrann Mathieu is happy about, especially since we see how much it seemed to bother Patrick Peterson.

A dynamic defensive back at LSU, Mathieu was a Heisman Trophy finalist as a sophomore in the 2011 season, the first defensive back so honored since Charles Woodson won the award in 1997.

I think it is safe to say he is worth this money.

The Cardinals anticipate Mathieu will be back and healthy by the team’s 2016 season opener against the New England Patriots.