The Green Bay Packers are entering the 2024 NFL season with a great deal of high expectations. This is quite different compared to last season when there were a great deal of doubts surrounding their young roster. This, of course, was because Green Bay made the decision to trade future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets and hand the keys of the offense over to Jordan Love.
Not only was Love allowed to take over, the Packers also undertook a massive youth movement that saw them move on from several veterans at key positions. Green Bay chose to replaced these veterans with young and inexpensive rookies and second-year players.
Unfortunately, one of these second-year players stepped in, not because of a veteran leaving in free agency, but because one was lost for the year early in the season. This, of course, was Rasheed Walker stepping in for David Bakhtiari after Week One.
The Green Bay Packers Made the Decision to Release David Bakhtiari Earlier in the Offseason
Bakhtiari, unfortunately, was unable to play for Green Bay at all following their Week One win over the Chicago Bears. His surgically repaired knee was reinjured and he need more work done on it.
As many fans may remember, the five-time All-Pro left tackle tore his ACL doing a non-contact drill during practice on New Years Eve in 2020. The injury forced him to miss the Packers’ postseason run that year, which ended in a defeat in the NFC Championship Game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He returned for the final game of the 2021 regular season, but did not play in their playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
In 2022, Bakhtiari played in 11 games as he was used cautiously in order to avoid further injury. Going into 2023, everything was supposed to be all healed. But it wasn’t.
With a cap hit of over $40 million in 2024, Bakhtiari was released earlier this spring to save money on the salary cap.
NFL Analyst Says the New Orleans Saints Would Be the Best Fit for David Bakhtiari
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Fortunately for Bakhtiari, his latest medical update shows that he is on pace to be fully healthy by the time training camp roles around. However, he is still a free agent and does not have a training camp to go to.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, though, believes the New Orleans Saints should take a flyer on the former Packers left tackle:
“The New Orleans Saints should also consider taking a flier on Bakhtiari. New Orleans won nine games in 2023 and could make a run in the NFC South this season.
“Trevor Penning hasn’t panned out as a starting left tackle, and while the Saints used a first-round pick on Taliese Fuaga, Fuaga was a right tackle in college and could potentially play inside as well.
“Adding Bakhtiari could allow the Saints to transition Fuaga into the left-side role slowly and/or use him as insurance at other positions. It’s worth noting that right tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s ongoing knee issues leave some uncertainty about his future.”
Granted, there is no guarantee that Bakhtiari’s knee will hold up either. However, a team like the Saints could certainly use the depth that he could provide.
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