The Green Bay Packers have seen some significant changes made to their roster this offseason. While many of their core playmakers remain, the Packers also allowed several to depart via free agency or outright release. Among the most notable players that left was running back Aaron Jones, who ended his time in Green Bay as the franchise’s third all-time leading rusher. He was replaced by the signing of Josh Jacobs in free agency and the drafting of Marshawn Lloyd.
The Packers also allowed all of their safeties from last season to leave as free agents. Darnell Savage has since signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jonathan Owens signed with the Chicago Bears, and Rudy Ford remains a free agent. To replace them, the Packers signed Xavier McKinney in free agency and selected three new safeties in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The similarity in all of these veterans departing is that Green Bay went out and signed a high-profile free agent to be their clear replacement. The same cannot be said for former left tackle David Bakhtiari.
The Green Bay Packers Have No Clear Answer at Left Tackle After the Release of David Bakhtiari
The Packers made the decision to release Bakhtiari earlier this offseason in an effort to save nearly $20 million in salary cap space. Even if he had been healthy over the last three seasons, there was a very small chance that he would have been brought back in 2024 with a cap hit of over $40 million.
Unlike the other players mentioned previously, though, the Packers did not go out and get the clear-cut replacement for Bakhtiari at left tackle. Sure, they signed free agent Andre Dillard, but he has been a major disappointment so far in his career (he is a former first round pick) and may not even make the team.
Last year, 2022 seventh round pick Rasheed Walker started the 16 games that Bakhtiari could not. While he showed flashes, he also showed enough inconsistency for Green Bay to be hesitant of naming him the starting left tackle going forward.
Instead, the Packers drafted three offensive linemen this past year, most notably first round pick Jordan Morgan. Now, Green Bay does not have a clear frontrunner for the starting left tackle job going into 2024. Just about anyone in that position group on the roster could end up winning the job.
Former Green Bay Packers Left Tackle David Bakhtiari Could Sign with the Dallas Cowboys
Now that he is a free agent, Bakhtiari is free to sign with any team. The good news for him is that his knee is healing on schedule and he will be ready for training camp. Unfortunately, he remains unsigned.
That does not mean, though, that he will not have suitors as training camp nears. For instance, one Dallas Cowboys insider suggests that they do well to take a flyer on the former Packers Pro Bowler:
“For years Bakhtiari was the gold standard at the left tackle position. If there was one player who could rival the Cowboys’ Tyron Smith as best in the league, it was him. Bakhtiari, 32, was the only player in the NFL to earn first or second team All-Pros in every season between 2016-2020. He was an elite run blocker and pass protector and frequently played on an island protecting for a quarterback who wasn’t afraid to improvise behind him.
“Moving Smith from guard to LT isn’t an ideal solution if Guyton struggles. And there’s no telling if Waletzko or Richards would be better than a struggling Steele. Having a veteran like Bakhtiari available in relief would be far more comforting.”
Fans may remember that in the one game Bakhtiari played in 2023, he was absolutely dominant. If the Cowboys, or any team, can get a healthy season out of him in 2024, he would end up being an absolute steal of a signing.
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