Seahawks free agency: Jadeveon Clowney versus Clay Matthews
By Geoff Shull
Clay Matthews – DE
The Seahawks were recently connected to Clay Matthews. I am sure the Pete Carroll, USC parallel is helping connect the dots. It’s understandable though. He is one of the last solid pass rushers left in free agency.
Matthews is also coming off a very solid season, where he had a pressure rate of just under 15%. This would put QB pressure rate in the top 20 in the NFL last season. He didn’t just get pressures, he also capitalized with some solid stats.
Sacks: 8
Pressures: 37
TFL: 5
Tackles: 37
Games Played: 13
Fitting Matthews into the Seahawks roster would be a little hokier than fitting Clowney. There is an obvious void that could be filled at the 5-tech. Whereas Clay Matthews is more of an LEO. Seattle already signed a slew of veterans to fill this spot. They also, drafted two players to help here.
One big pull could be that the Seahawks rotate defensive lineman more than just about any other team out there. They try to keep their team fresh by swapping bodies. It also keeps the opposing offense on their toes. Matthews is an artist and has a very high IQ in terms of knowing how to get to the QB.
Adding another experienced and successful pass rusher to the crew could make the unit all the more potent in 2020. An LEO rotation of Benson Meyowa, Bruce Irvin, Darrell Taylor (if healthy) and Matthews could be enough speed around the edge that it won’t matter who players on the opposite defensive end spot.
That isn’t saying the opposite is housing any slouches. I honestly want to get Rasheem Green and LJ Collier as many reps as they can possibly take. Its time Seattle trusted their young players enough to get on the field and allowed them to grow in-game. Green has a sky-high potential and could easily be a 10+ sack per year player if he is given the opportunity.
Signing Matthews would allow the 5-tech to be manned by a young and hungry group. Meanwhile, the LEO would be a veteran’s paradise. 5-techs all want to prove themselves and the veterans all want to win a championship before they retire.
Next. Three defensive linemen free agents the Seahawks should sign now. dark
Then comes the money aspect. Matthews is likely going to be available on the cheap. At least comparatively. Matthews is firmly in his age 34 season and has had a very limited market thus far in free agency.
What contract terms would likely look like: 1 year, $2.25 million. $500k guaranteed.