Cardinals sign S Mathieu to four-year deal

Arizona Sports News online

Six of the Cardinals’ seven draft picks are now signed, after the team inked safety Tyrann Mathieu to a four-year deal on Thursday.

Outside of guard Jonathan Cooper – who’s the final draft pick yet to be signed – Mathieu is arguably the Cardinals most high profile pick, simply because of what he’s gone through in his life over the past couple of years prior to his arrival in Arizona.

According to the NFL Network’s Albert Breer, Mathieu’s due a signing bonus of $662,500. Breer’s also reporting that Mathieu received a $265,000 signing bonus and can earn an additional $397,500 in partially guaranteed roster bonuses ($132,500 in 2014, 2015 and 2016) over the final three years of the deal.

According to various sources around the league, if Mathieu is cut for performance reasons within the first two seasons, he’ll receive the full sum, but if he’s suspended for any drug violations he won’t get all of the money.

The deal is worth a total of $3.052 million. If Mathieu stays on the straight and narrow, he’ll receive $662,500 in guaranteed money in this contract.

Mathieu’s agent, Patrick Lawlor, believes the deal is a good one for his client.

“The deal is structured so that if Tyrann performs as we expect and has no problems, then he will be rightfully paid the entire value of the contract,” Lawlor told ESPN’s Ed Werder.