Arizona Cardinals: Can Tyrann Mathieu Become a Star?

May 10, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (32) and defensive backs coach Nick Rapone look on during Rookie Minicamp at the Cardinals Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

With the 69th pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals took Tyrann Mathieu. There was a lot of hype around the pick and not for good reasons. There are a lot of questions about Mathieu, and his character.

Mathieu was a star at LSU for two years, but then it all went down the drain because he fell in love with marijuana. Almost everyone who followed the draft would hear Mathieu’s story over and over again. It was like the song “Call Me Maybe” that people got tired of hearing.

According to Albert Breer of NFL.com, Mathieu was taken off some teams’ draft boards. However, Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys said he was the best player available in the draft. With so much potential there had to be a team that would give it a shot and I believe he went to perfect team to succeed.

Patrick Peterson is his mentor and someone who he looks up to, so that should help Mathieu. Also, his teammate Kevin Minter is also a Cardinal. On the outside, Mathieu really looks like he wants this opportunity real bad and he’s willing to get his life back on track, but only he knows if he’s telling the truth or if he is just feeding the people lies.

He even told reporters to stop calling him the “Honey Badger” because it was a part of his past. It’s hard to fool a man like Steve Keim, who genuinely believes in Mathieu.

Mathieu has all the talent in the world and is a natural playmaker with the ball in his hands. In two years, he forced 11 fumbles, so he knows how to make an impact. While he only had two interceptions in his college career, I expect him to grab some more of those at the safety position.

With a great work ethic and letting go of his past, Mathieu will succeed in the NFL

If he emerges into a star for Arizona, then the Cardinals got a huge steal. I expect him to become a real good starter, but because of his tendencies to gamble for the big play, he gets beat often or misses the tackle. That will prevent him from becoming a star.

We won’t find out until the season, and don’t jump on him if he doesn’t succeed right away it’s the NFL way different from college ball. Here’s to a long healthy and drug-free career for Mathieu, and maybe even a Lombardi Trophy in the desert to go with it.