With prospect visits in full swing, former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is scheduled to meet with two NFL heavyweights.
Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported Friday that Mathieu will visit the New England Patriots on April 5. Four days later, Mathieu will meet with the San Francisco 49ers, an NFL source told Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee.
The 49ers need help at cornerback, but their free agency search at the position has hovered primarily around bigger players. The 5-foot-9, 186-pound Mathieu -- booted off LSU last season for violating team rules -- widely is viewed as a slot corner, but NFL.com's Bucky Brooks sees the "capacity to play cornerback, nickelback and safety in a diverse scheme." Niners defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would be an ideal NFL tutor for Mathieu.
The Patriots re-signed slot man Kyle Arrington at four years for $16 million, but Bill Belichick adores athletic, versatile players, not to mention Mathieu's potential Pro Bowl special-teams skills.
Brooks lists the 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist as a second-round talent and potential fit for the Bengals, Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL Network's Mike Mayock believes Mathieu might fall to the third or fourth round, where he suddenly becomes the type of value selection Belichick historically loves.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
