While most of the attention in Green Bay is on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the looming contract extension that is expected to be signed soon, there are several other marquee players set to hit free agency following the 2013 season. It is never too soon to be looking ahead to next year, when the leader of a team's defense could be on his way out. In order to prevent the loss of one the team's best all-around athletes, the Packers are working out a contract extension with Clay Matthews to hopefully be done soon.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers are expected to use a large chunk of their remaining salary cap space to sign Matthews and Rodgers to respective contract extensions prior to the start of the 2013 season. The team wants to lock down Matthews to a long-term deal before he has the chance to consider free agency.
Matthews is entering the final year of a five-year, $9.925 million contract. He is scheduled to make $3.73 million in 2013 with a cap number of $4.86 million. The Packers have $18 million remaining in cap space for the 2013 season. This is money they have set aside in order to insure that they can sign Matthews and Rodgers to large extensions. While Rodgers deal is expected to make him the highest-paid player in the NFL, Matthews's potential deal can be expected to be higher than the $10 million range.
Matthews has been the leader of the Packers defense for four seasons, making it to the Pro Bowl each time. While he was hampered with lingering injuries last season, in the 12 games he played, he totaled 43 tackles and 13 sacks.
If for some reason the two sides were unable to reach a deal and Matthews forced himself in free agency, the Packers would cut him off at the pass by placing the franchise tag on him, making him play at least two more seasons with the team. Under the franchise tag, he would make $10 million. Matthews would gain attention from almost every team during the free agency period and the Packers cannot afford to lose him.
Rodgers pending contract will not interfere with Matthews's potential to sign a new deal. The Packers can work Rodgers deal so that his cap space number is lower, freeing up money for Matthews. Matthews value will only continue to rise each day the Packers let him play without a new contract so a deal must get done soon.