NFL: The Green Bay Packers have been at the center of arguably the biggest trades over the last two off-seasons. In 2022 the Packers sent star wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for multiple premium draft picks. This year has been highlighted, of course, by the massive Aaron Rodgers trade.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari has been rumored to be on the trade block ever since the Packers off-loaded Rodgers. It is no secret that, when healthy, Bakhtiari is still one of the better left tackles in the NFL and would garner a lot of interest throughout the league. One team, however, has surfaced as a real potential suitor.
New York Jets Surface As “Real Trade Suitor” For LT David Bakhtiari (NFL)
The New York Jets have been long rumored to be interested in Bakhtiari. While many teams are in need of a star left tackle, the list of teams that need a left tackle and are contending is not as long of a list. An article published by the Acme Packing Company highlighted how the Jets just became a premier suitor for David Bakhtiari:
Jets should be able to add a good player at the deadline. The Jets now sit just shy of $16M in cap space for this season.
David Bakhtiari’s 2023 cap hit for an acquiring team is incredibly small at just over $100,000 per week (his entire cap hit for the team taking him on would just be base salary plus per-game bonuses). His 2024 cap hit, however, is more sizable, as it would be $21.5M.
The Jets do not currently have the 2024 space to take that on, but with some nifty cap work (aka pretty basic restructures), they can make it happen. Because the Jets have extra cap space this year, they could convert some of Bakhtiari’s 2024 base salary into a signing bonus and split it across the two seasons.
The exact number that they would do, I don’t know, but as an example, if they converted $12M of that salary into a bonus, his 2023 cap hit for them would increase $6M, and his 2024 cap hit would drop from $21.5M to $15.5M. The more they convert, the more his 2023 hit increases and the more his 2024 hit decreases.
That’s enough on the Jets’ cap sheet. The important part is they can do this. The real question for Green Bay becomes: would Green Bay want to do this? The Jets offensive line is the weakest part of their team.
Duane Brown opened camp on PUP which means that Billy Turner, yes that Billy Turner has been getting most of the LT1 reps for them. Adding David Bakhtiari would be a large boost to their front, but since the Packers already have the Jets picks tied up in an Aaron Rodgers trade, compensation becomes trickier.
What Would A Green Bay Packers – New York Jets Trade For David Bakhtiari Look Like?
If the Green Bay Packers have long-term faith in Yosh Nijman, getting a valuable draft pick for someone who will likely be gone after the 2023 season makes too much sense. Here is what our trade proposal looks like:
New York Jets Receive:
- LT David Bakhtiari
Green Bay Packers Receive:
- 2024 Second-Round Draft Pick (If Aaron Rodgers plays more than 65% of the snaps in 2023)
- OR 2024 Fourth Round Draft Pick and 2025 Third Round Draft Pick
This would be yet another “all in” move by the Jets. Head Coach Robert Saleh recently said that five players will be competing for the two starting tackle spots. Becton will have his work cut out for him with Duane Brown, Cedric Ogbuehi, Max Mitchell and Billy Turner all duking it out for playing time. Becton may view himself as a left tackle, but Saleh said he has to earn it: “Go earn the left tackle.” Why would Saleh not want Bakhtiari protecting Rodgers?
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