It has been a dreadful year for Tyrann Mathieu, but all of the drama in his past will conclude when he is selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The collegiate career of the “Honey Badger” was ruined by reportedly 10 failed drug tests. Now, the ex-LSU Tigers star will likely trade in his stripes for a spot on the same roster as Peyton Manning.
All along, Mathieu has been projected as mid second-rounder or an early third-round pick, but without his antics off of the field he would have been a top-10 selection. If the Broncos are able to snag Mathieu with the 58th overall pick they will improve a secondary that was absolutely exposed by Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC playoffs. No one is expecting an All-Pro career from the disgruntled defensive back, but with his skill set, the sky is the limit for the Honey Badger.
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots should also be interested in Mathieu considering their secondary woes, but the troubles involving the police may keep him out of Foxborough.
Taking a project like the Honey Badger will pay dividends for the Broncos as the age of Champ Bailey is becoming more and more obvious. In addition, Denver went defensive line in the first round to cement a pass rush against top teams like the Patriots. A pass rush is wonderful, but without solid cornerbacks on the outside it’s virtually impossible to compete in a league that is dominated by the long ball.
