Odds: Steelers among Favorites to Get UFA Safety Tyrann Mathieu

The Pittsburgh Steelers are among the betting favorites to sign free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu, according to odds released Tuesday by Bookies.com, but they are not at the top of the list.

The Steelers have the sixth-best odds to land Mathieu at +750. The Philadelphia Eagles have the best odds at +300, followed by the New Orleans Saints (+325), Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts (+650), New York Jets (+700) and the Steelers. The Field is at +400.

Mathieu has visited with his hometown Saints in-person, though he left that trip to New Orleans saying that he’s not sure if the Saints really need him. He also had a virtual visit with the Eagles.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin personally called Mathieu to make his pitch for the All-Pro safety to come to Pittsburgh. The Steelers are still looking to replace starting strong safety Terrell Edmunds, the last of their starting spots that remains vacant this offseason.

But it’s not clear how far the Steelers will be willing to go in their pursuit of Mathieu. General manager Kevin Colbert emphasized at the NFL owner’s meetings that the Steelers preference is to sign players that are younger and hitting free agency for the first time. Mathieu is 29.

Edmunds also remains a free agent and is an option to return to the team, though the late date would suggest that is unlikely. The Steelers declined their fifth-year option on Edmunds’ contract, which set up their need at the position this offseason.

The Steelers also have options in the 2022 NFL Draft. They’ve sent Colbert and/or Tomlin to see Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton, Michigan’s Dax Hill and Georgia’s Lewis Cine, all of which could be options for the team’s first-round pick at No. 20 overall.

Former Oakland Raiders top pick Karl Joseph, who spent 2021 on the Steelers’ practice squad, and journeyman special teamer Miles Killebrew are the only strong safeties currently on the roster.