The Houston Texans made waves through the league when they are able to land All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu in free agency.
The Houston Texans decision to go after Tyrann Mathieu in free agency and securing his services for this season has been their biggest signing since they signed cornerback Jonathan Joseph to a five-year deal in 2011. Mathieu has had a similar to the impact to his peers in the safety group that Joseph had on cornerbacks such as A.J. Bouye and Kareem Jackson when he first arrived in the franchise.
Mathieu has had a productive season in his first season with the Texans, His mean streak as a run defender has him ranked third on the team with 61 combined tackles. Mathieu also has three sacks and a couple of interceptions. The three sacks he has in his first 10 games with the Texans are more than he had in the five seasons with his previous team, the Arizona Cardinals. Mathieu had a total of four sacks in the five seasons he was with the Cardinals. Mathieu’s three sacks this season are tied for second in the league among free safeties, he’s only behind Los Angeles Chargers rookie Derwin James, who has 3.5 sacks.
Mathieu’s two interceptions are also tied for second in the team, his impact cannot be overstated as he has been healthy and started in all the Texans have played so far. The Texans have struggled with injuries in the secondary with Kevin Johnson, Kayvon Webster, and Jermaine Kelly Jr. all being placed in the I.R. this season. The other significant signing in free agency, Aaron Colvin, has missed the past 10 games with an ankle injury.
Mathieu has provided the defense with a vocal leader on the field and in the locker room. He has helped unite the secondary and taken rookies like Justin Reid under his wing.
.@Mathieu_Era: "I told those guys last night how much I love them, how much I enjoy playing with them.” pic.twitter.com/FCSyujRvW1
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 19, 2018
In his short time in Houston, Mathieu has done his fair share of work to help the Texans in their most recent seven-game win streak in the franchise history. Mathieu has proved he is still a top 10 player at his position, and he has more than earned an extension with the team. A safety that is able to defend the pass, run, and rushing the quarterback is hard to find these days. The Texans have finally found a veteran safety that can hold his own at his position and be a tone setter in the secondary.