Packers left with little choice but to get rid of David Bakhtiari

May 7, 2023 ndowd

As the Packers enter the post-Aaron Rodgers era, they may be thinking about offensive tackle David Bakhtiari’s future.

Many of Aaron Rodgers’ friends have joined him in New York this offseason. Could Green Bay Packers’ David Bakhtiari be next?

Not until the end of the 2023 season, based on his contract. But after that, Bakhtiari most likely won’t be a Packer any longer.

The veteran offensive tackle has played with Rodgers for his entire decade-long career in Green Bay, and given how the backend of his contract is structured, he is probably going to follow in Rodgers’ footsteps after this year.

Whether he considers the New York Jets as an ideal landing spot or not, it just wouldn’t make much sense for the Packers to keep him after 2023.

Ken Ingalls helps break down Bakhtiari’s contract situation:

David Bakhtiari is due $21.5M in 2024 at a $40.6M cap hit.

Let’s say the Packers extend him without reducing his 2024 cash ($21.5M)…

…The absolute minimum his 2024 cap hit would be is $24.4M, with a meaningful extension closer to $30M+

The math is rough to keep him around.

— Ken Ingalls – Packers Cap 💰 (@KenIngalls) May 5, 2023

Green Bay has reworked Bakhtiari’s contract ever since his 2020 extension to essentially kick the bucket down the road, and the franchise will feel those consequences in the 2024 season.

Releasing the star tackle after this season would force the Packers to eat $19 million, yet they would save $21.5 million.

Packers OT David Bakhtiari looks like a surefire cap casualty candidate in 2024

Bakhtiari’s cap hit for 2023 is a reasonable $21 million, but that skyrockets to over $40 million in 2024.

To lessen that number, the Packers would have to extend the veteran tackle (he’ll be 33 years old next season), and given Bakhtiari’s recent knee issues, he may pose as more of a liability than a dependable piece in the trenches in the coming years.

Besides, with Rodgers out, the team may be looking to get younger on the offensive side anyway.

The three-time Pro Bowler made a storied career out of being Rodgers’ blindside blocker; however, all his previous contract restructures were bound to catch up to the franchise at some point.

Behind Bakhtiari, the Packers could lean on Rasheed Walker or Caleb Jones; they may also choose to draft early round talent at the position come next year.

For now, Bakhtiari should enjoy what could very likely be his last season with the only team he’s ever known. All good things have to come to an end — Aaron Rodgers already taught Green Bay that lesson.

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