Chicago Bears: Should team pursue Clay Matthews?
The Chicago Bears have elite talent at the pass rush position, but they are in desperate need of depth. Could a familiar face fill that role?
According to multiple reports, the Los Angeles Rams are set to release former Defensive Player of the Year, Clay Matthews. While the Chicago Bears have made a flurry of moves to get help opposite Khalil Mack, they could stand to add some valuable depth behind the likes of Mack and Robert Quinn. Would a possible signing of Clay Matthews make sense for Chicago? Lets examine…
While Matthews is 33-years old, the Southern California product just finished a season in which he tallied 37 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 11 QB hits and 8 sacks. Could you imagine that kind of production coming from your third-best edge rusher?
I know, I know… Many will point the fact that Matthews is over the hill and that the Bears should be looking for a younger player with more upside, but it seems evident to me that the Bears brass knows that they need to win now — and there’s no better way to make that happen than to stockpile talent at a premium position.
Yes, the Bears need help on offense, but what’s that famous saying again? Oh, right… Defense wins championships. Imagine the Bears playing on the lakefront, and as Aaron Rodgers goes to take a snap under center he’s looking out at a mix of Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Robert Quinn and his close friend, Clay Matthews.
I don’t know about you, but that gets my blood going!
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With that being said, we have to examine what it may cost to acquire the services of one, Clay Matthews. Last season, Matthews signed with the Los Angeles Rams for 2-years, on a contract worth up to $16.75 million, and was due a cap hit of $5.5 million for the coming 2020 NFL season.
Obviously after being released and only getting older, it would be foolish to think that Matthews would command the same level of contract on the current open market.
So, I think the Bears could get away inking Matthews to a 1-year incentivized deal worth roughly $4.5 million guaranteed. This would most likely fit the Bears current cap situation, and give them an insurance policy behind their two stud edge rushers.
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Why would Clay Matthews want to come to Chicago? Isn’t it obvious? He’d be able to square-off two times per season against his former team, the Green Bay Packers. How fun would that be as a Bears fan to see former Packer great, Clay Matthews wrestling Aaron Rodgers down onto the turf? If I’m Ryan Pace, I’m calling Clay Matthews’ agent as soon as I can to inquire if there’s any mutual interest on spending a year in the Windy City.