Packers: Bringing back Clay Matthews makes zero sense

Clay Matthews is one of the all-time Green Bay Packers greats, but bringing him back in 2021 would make little sense.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left tackle David Bakhtiari, and wide receiver Randall Cobb all took to Instagram on Friday night to drop a hint they wanted Matthews to be brought back to Green Bay.

Rodgers wrote “bring him back” on his Instagram story.

Just a joke? Perhaps, but after Rodgers got the Packers to trade for Cobb, who really knows at this point?

So, for a moment, let’s assume they are 100 percent serious. What could Matthews bring to the Packers defense in 2021?

He would offer some versatility to play as a backup edge rusher but also able to play inside linebacker. For a fourth or fifth edge rusher, you could make a case for Matthews, who would bring a ton of experience while also being another leader in the locker room. He had eight sacks and 11 QB hits in 2019, the last season he played.

So, why would the move not make sense for the Packers?

For starters, Matthews hasn’t played for two years. He’s also 35 years old. It would be a big ask to expect Matthews to come in and be a productive pass rusher, even if he was in a backup role behind Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary.

As a Packers fan, it’s easy to see why fans would be delighted to see Matthews back. It would be a lot of fun.

But here’s the question that needs to be asked. If Matthews’ success had come with another team and not the Packers, would anyone be saying Green Bay should sign him? It would be a move based on his incredible career with the Packers in the past, and not based on what he could provide in 2021.

As much as I love Matthews and as fun as it would be to see him back in Green Bay, a move would make little sense for the Packers. However, I’d be more than happy to be proved wrong here.