To prepare for training camp, we will be breaking down every player on the Green Bay Packers' 90-man roster in more detail, looking at contract terms and 2013 statistics, before we make our prediction for which players will make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp.
We continue our roster break down as we look at the returning group of outside linebackers for the Green Bay Packers.
#51 Nate Palmer
6'2", 248 pounds
How acquired: selected by Green Bay in the sixth-round (193rd overall) in 2013 NFL Draft
2014 Contract Details (signed through 2016)
Base salary: $495,000
Salary cap number: $519,724
2013 stats
Eight games played, two starts
17 tackles (8 solo)
Palmer played 200 snaps, or only about 17% of the team's total defensive plays. He recorded no sacks but four quarterback pressures and one tackle for loss. His best game came Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns when he played 46 of 73 defensive snaps and registered six tackles to go with two pressures.
#52 Clay Matthews
6'3", 255 pounds
How acquired: selected by Green Bay in the first-round (26th overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft
2014 Contract Details (signed through 2018)
Base salary: $1 million
Roster bonus: $5,343,750
Workout bonus: $500,000
Total compensation: $6,843,750
Salary cap number: 10,943,750
2013 stats
11 games played, 11 starts
40 total tackles (26 solo), 7.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, one pass defended
Last season was an injury-plagued one for Mathews after he dealt with lingering ankle and thumb injuries. Even with missed time, Clay still led the Packers in sacks but accumulated a career-low in tackles. Mathews is by far the quickest and most explosive player of Green Bay's linebacker corps. His presence (and good health) is needed for the upcoming season for the Packers as they look to energize their defense once again.
#53 Nick Perry
6'3", 265 pounds
How acquired: selected by Green Bay in the first-round (28th overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft
2014 Contract Details (signed through 2015 with team option for 2016)
Base salary: $1,071,750
Salary cap number: $2,045,250
2013 stats
11 games played, 6 starts
33 total tackles (24 solo), 4.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, one pass defended
Like Mathews, Perry has also missed some time because of injury in 2013. In his first two seasons as a pro, Perry has only played 17 games and he missed the entire offseason program with him still recovering. In the games he did play in last season, Perry made six starts in 11 contests, and recorded four sacks with three forced fumbles. The Packers want to see Perry on the field more and it's been disappointing that he hasn't been able to get on the field. With him missing all of the offseason program, we also recently posed the question: is Perry falling behind?
#55 Andy Mulumba
6'3", 260 pounds
How acquired: signed as an undrafted free-agent in 2013
2014 Contract Details (signed through 2015)
Base salary: $495,000
Cap number: $496,666
2013 stats
14 games played, three starts
33 total tackles (16 solo), 1.0 sack, one fumble recovery
Mulumba recorded 361 snaps from scrimmage and made three starts in his rookie year, four if you include the Packers' playoff loss against San Francisco. Mulumba added six hurries to his one sack in his rookie campaign and looks to build on his rookie year rather than be cut before earning a roster spot for a second time like Dezman Moses and Vic So'oto were (the last few undrafted rookie linebackers to make the Packers' opening week roster).