Mathieu’s NFL career came to a surprising end Tuesday afternoon when he announced his retirement on the eve of start of Saints’ training camp. His retirement leaves a hole at the safety position, giant shoes for someone to try to fill. This would have been Mathieu’s fourth season with the Saints and his 13th in the NFL.

The NFC South is home to many talented safeties, and that's true even after Tyrann Mathieu retired. How does his departure change our rankings?

There was no player ever at LSU like Tyrann Mathieu. Like his namesake wild animal, the Honey Badger, he took what he wanted during brief, brilliant career.