Clay Matthews Next Contract Will Likely Pay Him $13M Annually

Update:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Packers are expected to sign OLB Clay Matthews to a deal that would pay him at least $13 million annually.

Schefter adds that a deal will get done this offseason.

• Ian Rapoport mentions that Green Bay’s offer to Matthews eclipses DeMarcus Ware‘s contract.

It’s been no secret that the Packers were playing to spend their cap space on locking up their star players like Matthews and QB Aaron Rodgers. At $13 million annually, Matthews would be the highest paid linebacker in the game.

Green Bay seems poised to get both deals done before the start of the 2013 season, and if these reports are accurate, I’m sure it won’t take long for Matthews to sign that contract.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported earlier in the day that Green Bay is “getting closer” to reaching an agreement on a long-term contract extension with QB Aaron Rodgers.

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Packers could also be getting close to reaching a long-term extension with OLB Clay Matthews.

• Silverstein mentions that the Packers have been working on a contract with both players since the season ended and there’s a “good chance that all but a few details were worked out” during the recent owners meetings. 

Unlike Rodgers, Matthews will be entering the final year of his rookie contract and stands to make $3.73 million for the upcoming season. Silverstein adds that Matthews’ next contract will most likely pay him as much as $8-10 million annually.

The Packers have been saving their cap space this offseason and several reports have mentioned that they’re prepared to address both players before the start of the 2013 season. Both deals could be in place before the upcoming NFL Draft.