Green Bay Packers: Top 5 most overpaid players
1. Clay Matthews
2017 Base Salary: $10,100.000 Cap Hit: $15,075,000.00
The team’s second-highest player was its biggest underachiever and outside of his Week 16 signature performance against inept left tackle T.J. Clemmings, the “Claymaker” was frequently neutralized by the opposition’s offensive line.
Shoulder and hamstring injuries were a major part of Matthews’ 2016 decline that saw him produce a career-low 5 sacks.
He had far too many games (seven to be exact) where he registered one tackle or less with no sacks, forced fumbles or any other splash plays.
At 31-years old and entering his 9th NFL season, it is reasonable to speculate whether we’ll see the golden-maned pass rusher come close to replicating his exploits of year’s past.
Lorenzo Alexander, Cameron Wake and Cliff Avril were among the top veteran sack masters last season and none of them earned more than $6.8 million in base salary, which makes Matthews’ number rather obscene.
The sobering reality is that Green Bay’s coaching staff will need to find ways to reduce No. 52’s snaps throughout the regular season in order to keep him fresh for the postseason stretch run.
And while some have suggested he play inside a bit more, that would only increase his chances of suffering additional injuries.
Next: Packers 53-man roster predictions following the draft
Matthews belongs on the outside, but only as a situational rusher. A significant decrease in snaps would absolutely justify a 50-percent pay cut or something in that neighborhood.