Green Bay Packers: 5 most overpaid players on the roster

2. Clay Matthews, Outside Linebacker

2018 salary cap hit: $11,368,750

If you were to ask a large sum of people their opinions of Clay Matthews‘ performance in the last couple seasons, you’d likely get completely mixed reviews. Matthews had a great start to his career and played a vital role in the Packers’ 2010 Super Bowl run. However, the decline in his play over the past two seasons has been apparent, especially with the lack of playmakers around him.

Compared to other premium pass rushers around the NFL, Matthews’ production doesn’t always match his pay-rate. He’s paid the 13th highest average annual salary ($13.2 million) after signing a five-year, $66 million contract in 2013. But it’s not that Matthews isn’t worth the money – it’s the inconsistency in his performance which merits questions. As the third-highest-paid player on the Packers in 2018, he’ll have much to prove.

Matthews missed four games in 2016 and two games in 2017. His last season with double-digit sacks came in 2014 when he had eleven. He’ll be 32-years-old this coming season, and it looks like his best days are behind him. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a contributor on defense though. Scaled-back playing time could mean a more effective Matthews in 2018. It’ll be the last year of his five-year contract.