Other than locking up superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to a long-term deal, the major offseason priority for the Cincinnati Bengals is improving their defense, which was the biggest issue preventing them from making the playoffs.

The Bengals need help at every level of the defense, but the secondary is one of the biggest issues on that side of the ball. Cincinnati’s pass defense is coming off a year in which it ranked 21st.

With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox thinks the Bengals might be a suitor for New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu if the team decides to move on from him via trade.

“The Bengals should also be interested (in Mathieu),” Knox wrote. “Cincinnati lacked difference-makers in its secondary, and poor defense was the biggest reason it missed the playoffs this season. Bringing players like Mathieu into the fold could put the Bengals right back into the postseason mix.”

While the Bengals have one spot locked up at safety with Geno Stone, who is under contract in 2025, they do need a running mate for him, which makes Mathieu, who can play in the box or on the back end, a good fit in Cincinnati.

Even at 32, Mathieu still played at a high level in 2024. He gave up a completion rate of 61.1%, which was below his career total, and he surrendered an impressive 76.4 passer rating when targeted.

Those numbers would amount to an instant upgrade in coverage for Cincinnati, and Mathieu isn’t bad against the run, either. For a win-now team like the Bengals, Mathieu’s talent, experience and leadership would be a welcomed addition.

Mathieu has one more year left on his two-year, $13.7 million contract, so he isn’t likely to be very expensive, nor will he warrant a long-term commitment. And, with the Saints in salary cap hell, they should be open to trading him.

But, any trade of Mathieu would likely come with a post-June 1 designation, as the Saints wouldn’t save a dime if they trade him pre-June 1. Even still, that shouldn’t stop the Bengals from having interest.