The Green Bay Packers altered the course of the franchise, for better or worse, by trading Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. Prior to the trade, Allen Lazard signed with Jets, anticipating playing with Rodgers again, and since the trade numerous more former Packers have signed with New York.
Ever since Rodgers told The Pat McAfee Show that he was committed to playing for the Jets in 2023 (the trade had not occurred yet), fans and analysts began questioning the immediate future of David Bakhtiari in Green Bay. Now, months after the trade and less than two weeks before training camp, Bakhtiari’s name is still being thrown around in various trade scenarios.
To be frank, the Packers are not trading Bakhtiari (this year) and any suggestion that they would entertain the idea of doing so goes against everything the Packers have done this offseason.
David Bakhtiari Is Still the Best Tackle the Green Bay Packers Have
While there are concerns about Bakhtiari’s knee, especially when playing on artificial turf, there is no question that he remains the best offensive tackle that the Packers have. He allowed exactly ZERO sacks in 2022, indicating that he is just as effective as he was before his injury.
The PFF grades for the Packers’ offensive linemen also indicate that Bakhtiari is, by far, the best tackle on the team. Below are the overall offensive grades for each tackle on the current roster:
- Bakhtiari- 79.8
- Luke Tenuta- 71.7
- Zach Tom- 68.3
- Yosh Nijman- 63.1
If one looks at the guards’ overall grades, too, they show that Bakhtiari was head and shoulders above everyone on the Packers’ roster:
- Elgton Jenkins- 72.3
- Jon Runyan Jr.- 62.7
- Royce Newman- 57.5
- Jake Hanson- 47.2
Remember, the Packers did not take any offensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft. Trading away Bakhtiari would not make this team any better in 2023. Instead, it would create a void that they would not be able to fill this season.
The Green Bay Packers Are Not Rebuilding
Bakhtiari himself has stated that the Packers are rebuilding this year, but those comments were taken way out of context. He later explained that a rebuild does not mean that the team is going to play poorly. He pointed to the Seattle Seahawks last year, who made the NFL Playoffs after trading away Russell Wilson.
That being said, when people hear the term “rebuild,” they assume that means the team is going to be bad. The Packers are not rebuilding in the sense that they know that they will struggle in 2023. Left guard Elgton Jenkins said earlier this offseason that their expectation is to win the NFC North.
Since the Packers expect to compete for a division crown this year, they will absolutely not trade their best offensive lineman. Doing so would go against everything they have said and done this offseason.
David Bakhtiari’s Future in Green Bay Is Uncertain Beyond 2023
All of this being said, Bakhtiari may not be in Green Bay beyond this season. According to Spotrac, the Packers can save $21.4 million next season by cutting him before June 1.
The big question is whether or not Green Bay will see fit to extend him and rework the final year of his current contract to keep him. On one hand, he is still an elite player; on the other hand, age catches up to everyone, and the Packers believe it is better to cut ties with a player one year too early as opposed to one year too late.
The point here is that fans should enjoy Bakhtiari while he is still in a Packers uniform. While 2024 may be a mystery, 2023 is not (at least in terms of his being on the team).
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