David bakhtiari’s time with the packers is almost certainly over. The team’s longest-tenured player is the 2013 draftee, who was drafted by aaron rodgers and mason crosby. The all-pro’s career was jeopardized by a knee injury sustained in a late-season practice in 2020. Bakhtiari has missed 45 games since the december 2020 injury, including five surgeries on the same knee. Although the long-serving green bay left tackle did not put retirement in doubt when he was released last season, he will soon be no longer be tied to the lucrative deal negotiated midway through the 2020 season.
According to matt schneidman of the athletic, the packers are supposed to release bakhtiari very soon (subscription required). Ryan wood of the green bay press gazette also points to this announcement. By removing the 11-year veteran, the packers could save nearly $21 million. This season, the packers’ cap will be a team-high $40 million. Bakhtiari’s contract is only for one season. None of his remaining wages is guaranteed, though the packers have more than $19 million in deferred signing bonus, which could be considered dead money if the former fourth-round pick is cut.
The packers gave bakhtiari a four-year, $92 million extension before he went down with an acl tear. The deal came to an end six weeks before the injury, marking a crucial moment for bakhtiari. Although both the tackles who signed record-breaking extensions during the 2020 season — bakhtiari and ronnie stanley — have suffered from repeat injury problems, the elder of the two blockers has been unable to put together a steady batch of starts since retiring. Bakhtiari’s injury is a possible “what if?”
The packers won the nfc’s no. 1). Shaq barrett and jason pierre-paul were both tipped off on their tackles in a narrow nfc championship game loss. Tom brady, who threw three second-half ints in the buccaneers’ victory, was protected by the barrett-jpp second-half sack spree. Although it is possible to suggest that if bakhtiari was available, the packers would make it to the super bowl lv, it quickly became a missed opportunity. The packers were no longer at that level when the five-time all-pro was able to play regularly again. During the 2022 slate, which featured 11 bakhtiari outings, they lost 8-9 and advanced to the playoffs.
