The Green Bay Packers have one of the youngest rosters in the league, and the team just lost one of the biggest veteran leaders. Right around the start of the legal tampering period, the Green Bay Packers decided to release longtime starting offensive tackle and two-time All-Pro David Bakhtiari. This is a tough fall from grace, as the fomer fourth-round pick used to be one of the most reliable and dominant players in the league at his position.
A lot of emotion in this. I just want to say THANK YOU Green Bay. Thank you for the last 11 years. It’s been a hell of a run. I always wanted to raise a Lombardi on Lombardi avenue, but I will never complain. I gave it my all. I always gave it my best no matter the circumstance… pic.twitter.com/dnc7gkKSAC
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) March 11, 2024
A longtime fixture with the Packers, David Bakhtiari had a series of injury-plagued campaigns prior to his release. The offensive lineman suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the 2020 season and, since then, has only appeared in 13 games over the past three seasons, including just one game in 2023.
The best ability is availability, and Bakhtiari’s inability to stay on the field combined with his staggering $40 million cap hit made this an easy decision for the Packers. The David Bakhtiari release created $21 million in much-needed cap space that Green Bay can use to solidify the safety position or add some more talent on offense.
At this point in his career, David Bakhtiari is not a top-dollar type of player. However, he has remained effective during his limited time on the field. Nobody is going to give him a massive paycheck, but there are a few teams who could check in on him after his release. Seeing as he only played one game last year, it would be easy to structure an incentive-laden contract that won’t count much against the salary cap.
5 Teams Who Could Sign David Bakhtiari After Release
Possible Team Fits
New York Jets
The Jets need offensive tackles, and David Bakhtiari used to be a Packer before his release. This one makes all the sense in the world, as the two-time All-Pro seems destined to be the next player to take the direct flight from Wisconsin to the Big Apple. New York shouldn’t bank on Bakhtiari solving any of their problems, but he’s a good low-risk, high-reward signing with familiarity in the system.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints need a tackle, but they don’t have the cap space to go after one of the top free agents. With a desperate need at left tackle, the Saints could throw a dart at David Bakhtiari and hope he can bounce back from his release. Derek Carr is one of the worst quarterbacks in the league when it comes to handling pressure, so New Orleans will need to find somebody capable of providing adequate protection if the team wants to make a playoff run.
Kansas City Chiefs
4 of the 5 starting spots on the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line are set in stone. The left tackle position, however, is wide open. While the Chiefs would probably prefer to go after someone like Tyron Smith, they might not be able to afford him after handing out a massive extension to Chris Jones. With this in mind, they might need to bargain shop and sign David Bakhtiari after his release. The Chiefs should still draft a tackle between Rounds 2-4, but Bakhtiari provides a cheap insurance policy in case the rookie isn’t ready to go from Day 1.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have already improved their running back position position with Tony Pollard and added the best free agent center in Lloyd Cushenberry. With the run game secured, the Titans need to work on improving the pass protection. David Bakhtiari isn’t atop anyone’s wish list, but the released lineman would still be an upgrade. Realistically, the Titans need two or three tackles, so Bakhtiari shoudn’t be the only big name they add.
New England Patriots
Trent Brown is not coming back to New England, which means they’ll need a left tackle. While the Patriots have plenty of cap space and could certainly afford a better option, recent reports indicate that the team plans on spending a sizable chunk of their resources on wide receivers. With that in mind, perahps New England decides to bargain shop at offensive tackle with David Bakhtiari. Much like the Titans, New England needs at least two tackles with Michael Onwenu also likely to leave. The Patriots can spend up for one or two starters and then take a low-risk gamble on Bakhtiari.
Main Photo: Mark Hoffman – USA Today Sports
