If this season has reminded Green Bay Packers fans of anything, it is that football is a business. Sometimes, business is not fun. 2022 saw many fan favorites and team legends play their last game in Green and Gold. Players like Aaron Rodgers, Mason Crosby, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb will not return. Unfortunately, every year will see players bidding adieu to their team. That is just the way of the NFL, despite what Aaron Rodgers might have you believe (see my “Disrespect Packers” series linked below). The same will undoubtedly be true next season as fans and the organization say goodbye to several key players. Here are three players who may be playing their final season in Green Bay.
1. David Bakhtiari
There is no doubt that, when healthy, David Bakhtiari is still one of the best left tackles in the NFL. Jordan Love is fortunate to have such a quality player protecting his blindside during his first season as a starter. The problem is that there is no guarantee that Bakhtiari will remain healthy this season. If he does, well, then moving on from him becomes an even tougher decision. One big sticking point, though, is his cap hit. Green Bay can save $21.4 million by cutting Bakhtiari after the season. With so many younger and talented linemen on their roster, the Packers may decide to move on.
2. Darnell Savage
Darnell Savage played very well during his first two NFL seasons. Unfortunately, the last two years have seen his quality of play decline to a concerning level. At one point, he was even benched last season for his poor play and bad decisions. When he returned, he was inserted into the slot corner position and improve a little. That being said, Savage still allowed a 68.2% completion percentage and 114.2 passer rating when targeted. If he does not show improvement in his fifth NFL season, the Packers may decline to offer him a new contract.
3. Yosh Nijman
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The caveat here is that Yosh Nijman technically is not on the Packers’ current roster. As a restricted free agent, he has yet to sign his tender for 2023. That being said, there is little reason to doubt that he will sign it. However, next season he will become an unrestricted free agent. It is not out of the realm of possibility that he will get more money elsewhere than the Packers are willing to offer him. The same was true for Allen Lazard this year. As with Bakhtiari, there are a great deal of young players that can make moving on from veterans a little bit easier.
The Disrespected Green Bay Packers
- How the “Disrespected” Packers Fared After Green Bay: Part I
- How the “Disrespected” Packers Fared After Green Bay: Part II
- How the “Disrespected” Packers Fared After Green Bay: Part III
- How the “Disrespected” Packers Fared After Green Bay: Part IV
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