The Green Bay Packers made the playoffs this past season as the youngest team in the NFL. As the franchise prepares for an even brighter future, it appears a decision on left tackle David Bakhtiari’s future has already been made by general manager Brian Gutekunst.
Bakhtiari, a five-time All-Pro selection, was one of the many success stories from the Packers’ draft and development philosophy. A fourth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Bakhtiari earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2017. By 2020, he had earned five consecutive All-Pro selections.
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Everything changed for Bakhtiari on December 31, 2020. In one of the team’s final practices before the NFL playoffs, Bakhtiari suffered a season-ending ACL tear. While ACL surgeries can typically sideline a player for nearly a year, Bakhtiari experienced a myriad of setbacks.
After starting in 106 games from 2013-’19, the Packers’ left tackle appeared in just 25 games over the past four seasons. After suffering another season-ending setback early in the 2023 season, it appears Bakhtiari has played his last snap in a Packers’ uniform.
In a mailbag for The Athletic, Packers’ beat reporter Matt Schneidman explained why he would be ‘stunned’ if Bakhtiari returned to Green Bay in 2024.
“No. Anything is possible, but I’d be stunned if Bakhtiari is back. He’s elite when healthy, but the Packers can’t count on him to be consistently healthy anymore, even if all parties think his latest knee surgery is finally what Bakhtiari needs to be in the clear. Not only that, but the Packers can free up a massive amount of cap space by cutting or trading Bakhtiari.”
The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman on whether or not David Bakhtiati will return to the Green Bay Packers
David Bakhtiari contract details
| Year | Cap Hit | Pre-June 1 release |
| 2024 | $39.994 million | $20.929 million cap savings |
Green Bay could theoretically attempt to trade Bakhtiari, exploring to see if Aaron Rodgers’ insistence on being reunited with his former teammate compels the New York Jets to trade for the veteran left tackle. However, New York and every other NFL team know the Packers are just going to cut Bakhtiari.
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As for the future at left tackle for the Packers, it appears Rasheed Walker is destined to fill that void. A seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Walker made 15 starts this season and left a strong impression on the coaching staff and front office with his play down the stretch.
With Walker and Zach Tom penciled in as the starters for both tackle spots in 2024, Green Bay’s needs will likely shift to the defensive side of the ball. Under a new defensive coordinator, expect the Packers to prioritize safety, linebacker and cornerback this offseason.
