 Matthews was one of 12 senior USC football players, including the four linebackers Cushing, Maiava, Matthews, and Maualuga, attending the by-invitation-only 2009 NFL Scouting Combine.Matthews, alongside fellow USC linebackers Maualuga and Cushing, was featured on the cover of "Sports Illustrated"s 2009 "NFL Draft Preview" magazine, as all three were regarded as potential first-round selections.On August 7, 2008, the Green Bay Packers traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets for what would become the Jets' third-round draft pick (83rd overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft.