Clay Matthews is signing with the Los Angeles Rams after spending the last ten years in Green Bay.
NFL Media's Mike Garafolo reported the deal is for two years and worth a maximum $16.75 million.
It is sort of a home-coming for Matthews who went to high school in California before attending USC -- where he played Trojans' games in the same L.A. Coliseum he'll call home in 2019.
Matthews will become part of a stacked Rams pass rush that boasted names like Ndamukong Suh and Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald in 2018. But after the team ranked 15th in sacks last year, the team wanted "to add veteran defensive players who can still compete at a high level, add smarts, and want the opportunity to compete [for a] ring", per Fox Sport's Peter Schrager.
Where Matthews will line up will present some interest after the Rams resigned fellow weak-side linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. to a 1-year, $12 million deal last week.
Despite being a fan-favourite in Wisconsin, it won't shock many people that Green Bay is not resigning the 32-year-old pass rusher after Matthews recorded just 3.5 sacks over 16 starts in 2018. The linebacker has not been named to the Pro Bowl since 2015, despite being named in six of his first seven seasons.
Matthews leaves the mid-west after recording 143 games, 15 forced fumbles, 83.5 sacks and a Super Bowl win with Green Bay, per Pro Football Reference. The Packers selected him 26th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.
COVER PHOTO: SportsNet
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