No one knows what to expect out of the Green Bay Packers in 2023. We know what we saw in 2022, with Aaron Rodgers leading the way, finishing at 8-9, in third place of the NFC North. Yet, we don’t even know who will be quarterbacking the team this fall.
Chances are, it will be Jordan Love, the 26th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, yet even the 24-year-old QB comes with plenty of question marks, having made just one career start. All signs point to the Packers trading Rodgers, their four-time NFL MVP, but again, the compensation is unknown.
With so many variables still yet to be determined, even current starting left tackle and two-time All-Pro member David Bakhtiari doesn’t know what to expect. But for fans holding out hope for a strong bounce-back season that ends by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the fifth time in franchise history, well, Bakhtiari provides some caution.
The tidbit came up from Bakhtiari discussing Aaron Rodgers’ situation and what he thinks the Packers should do while speaking on the Bussin With The Boys podcast
The Packers are rebuilding, whether you think so or not. Could they be good? I don’t know. Could they be bad? Probably if you’re betting more people are gonna think they’re gonna be bad than good, right? Isn’t that fair to say? So then they’ll be like, ‘Well, we’re gonna suck anyways. We want what we want, and we’re not gonna bend to anyone. So we’ll just eat it. We’ll pay you, we don’t care. If we’re gonna do it our way, it’s gonna be on our terms. If not, what are we gonna be, Super Bowl contenders anyway? So we’ll eat it, you can hang on the side. We’ll pay you your money, and then we’ll suck anyways, get the picks, as compared to dealing him for something that you shouldn’t have.”
Current Green Bay Packers tackle David Bakhtiari on Bussin With The Boys podcast (H/T Pro Football Talk)
While that’s a unique take, what’s also interesting is the way Bakhtiari framed his words, constantly saying “they” when referring to the Packers instead of something like “we” as a current member of the team.
Bakhtiari is 31 years old and has just two years left on his contract. If he feels the Packers are rebuilding, having never won a Super Bowl ring, why should he stick around in Green Bay?
Perhaps that’s another factor the Packers are weighing. Should they trade Rodgers, could a veteran like Bakhtiari be the next to go? Based on Bakhtiari’s comments, such a move wouldn’t be shocking.
Especially considering he’s set to have a $40.4 million cap hit in 2024 and even a $21.2 million charge in 2023. For a “rebuilding” team, those sound like bills that aren’t worth paying, even if it would provide additional security for Love and Matt LaFleur’s offense.
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