Clay Matthews and Baltimore Ravens would be a perfect match
Clay Matthews was released by the Los Angeles Rams and now he would be the perfect player for the Baltimore Ravens to bring in:
The Baltimore Ravens are tight against the salary cap and need an edge rusher and an inside linebacker to complete a deadly good defense. Clay Matthews wouldn’t count against the compensatory pick formula, should be available at a reasonable number and has experience playing both outside and inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. It’s a perfect match.
When you look at what Clay Matthews did in 2019, he obviously has some football left in the tank. He had eight sacks and two forced fumbles. Putting that kind of production on the other side of Matt Judon in passing situations could be a formidable combination. With Matthews added to the fold, Judon, Jaylon Ferguson and Tyus Bowser would be enough to get decent production from the outside linebacker position.
The Ravens investment in the defensive line will elevate the performance of the outside linebackers. Continued progress from Bowser and Ferguson is very much something that is on the table. You have to stop and think, what does the defense need to make this work? It doesn’t have to be another big splash in free agency. The Ravens have an elite secondary and an impressive as all get out defensive line. They just need to be solid at the linebacker positions.
The Ravens probably aren’t going to be able to pair Judon with an elite player on the other side. The Ravens probably aren’t going to say goodbye to Judon. The most likely scenario in 2020 (and I know I sound like a broken record) is Judon coming back to be the alpha dog at outside linebacker. Give him a sensible player to rush the passer with.
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Draft an edge rusher somewhere in the first three rounds. Done. That’s playing in the real world and living for the present moment while addressing the future of the position in the draft.
Matthews is solid. In the last three seasons he has started 43 games, so he’s fairly reliable from a durability perspective. He played in 13 games in 2019 while he’s coming off of an injury, he will be ready to go for the 2020 season. According to Pro-Football-Reference, Matthews played 56 percent snaps last season and he has three straight seasons with over 600 snaps where he was on the field.
Most affordable options at this position won’t be able to offer as much as Matthews can. Remember, with Matthews you are getting whatever you need out of him. If the Ravens need him at inside linebacker, that works. If the Ravens want him on the edge, that works. Believe one thing about all of this: If the Ravens sign Matthews, Don Martindale will move him all over the place.
He’s versatile, experienced and tough as nails. Matthews is what the Ravens look for. This move makes an incredible amount of sense and it will add up right with the limited ability the Ravens have to make a move.
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The Ravens have a chance to get a player they almost lured last year in free agency. This time they need to get the job done. Give me Matthews and Judon on the edges with a dominant defensive line. That’s the fairest balance between a dream scenario and reality.