Clay Matthews Signs Two-Year Deal with Rams
Following 10 seasons at linebacker with the Green Bay Packers, Clay Matthews agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams announced the deal on Tuesday.
Matthews lived in southern California growing up and was a walk-on at USC.
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The career sacks leader with the Packers with 83.5, Matthews had just 3.5 sacks in the 2018 season. That is his lowest total for a single season for his entire career. Last season he played all 16 games ending a five-year deal for $66 million and became a free agent.
Matthews, who is 32, will join outside linebackers Dante Fowler, who was recently signed, and Samson Ebukam. Los Angeles will also have inside linebacker Cory Littleton returning. Littleton led the Rams in tackles with 90 and picked off three passes last season.
Although Matthews was primarily an outside linebacker while also playing edge rusher, he spent time during both the 2014 and 2015 seasons paying inside linebacker. That factor was likely key in the decision the Rams signed Matthews.
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The Rams just recently released Mark Barron a veteran at inside linebacker that saved the team $6.33 million on the salary cap, but the departure of Barron left a significant empty space on the defensive side of the ball.
Matthews was drafted 26th overall in the 2009 draft and was selected to the Pro Bowl on six occasions over the first nine seasons of his career. In 2010, he was first-team All-Pro and finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.
The Rams have signed four players thus far during free agency. Besides Fowler and Matthews, the Rams signed safety Eric Weddle and quarterback Blake Bortles.
