Green Bay Packers restructure David Bakhtiari’s contract
The Green Bay Packers knew they would need to deal with left tackle David Bakhtiari’s contract this offseason. The Packers came into the offseason with limited cap space, and cutting the All-Pro offensive lineman was considered a real possibility.
Bakhtiari has missed many games since he injured his ACL in December 2020. Because the Packers stood to gain nearly $17 million by cutting Bakhtiari in June, the team needed to either adjust his contract or look to draft his replacement in April.
According to Jeremy Fowler with ESPN, the Packers chose to restructure his deal. The Packers converted $9.5 million into a March roster bonus. They then took $5.5 million of his base salary for this season and turned it into a guaranteed signing bonus. The move will lessen what would have been a $28.8 million cap hit.
The #Packers have restructured LT David Bakhtiari’s contract, per sources, converting $9.5 million into a March roster bonus and $5.5 million of his 2023 base salary into a guaranteed signing bonus.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 10, 2023
This will lessen his $28.8M cap hit for Green Bay to maneuver.
Where the Packers’ cap situation stands
The Packers’ cap space is looking better a few days before the free agency period is set to begin on March 15. According to Over The Cap, the Packers have about $24 million in cap space for this offseason. This will give the Packers a little breathing room to sign some help for Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love before the NFL draft in April.
We’ll see shortly what the move will do to entice Rodgers. Bakhtiari and Rodgers are friends, and Rodgers wanted him back if he were to play in Green Bay next season. However, talks are reportedly getting serious between the New York Jets and Packers for a Rodgers trade.
