Top 30 NFL free agents for 2019

26. Clay Matthews

Early in the 2018 season, Matthews became the poster child or the NFL’s emphasis on the rule aimed at preventing defenders from putting their weight on a quarterback after a hit (otherwise known as penalizing physics from a boardroom in the league office). But that obscures the fact he set a career-low with 3.5 sacks, despite playing all 16 games, and he has not topped 7.5 sacks  in four straight seasons now.

Some of Matthew’s drop-off as a pass rusher can be explained by having to move around at times due to injuries through the years, along with the Packers consistently lacking another threat opposite him. But the stark reality is he is now just an average player, approaching 33 years old (May 14), and his overall grade from Pro Football Focus for 2018 backs it up.

All signs point to the Packers making little or no effort to bring Matthews back, even if he’d be open to a one-year deal and a substantial discount.

But it will be interesting to see how Matthews’ market takes shape. Contending teams may see him as a usable piece who may simply need a change of scenery, or a more limited/focused role on passing downs (after playing 71.1 percent of Green Bays’ defensive snaps this past year, via Football Outsiders), to rebound back toward a level that’s gotten pretty far in the rearview mirror.