The Green Bay Packers are in prime position to be serious contenders in 2024. The emergence of Jordan Love as the next franchise quarterback has given them a stability that, quite frankly, they are used to. Having a high-level quarterback is something that is imperative to winning in today’s NFL. So too, however, is surrounding him with high-level talent.
Fortunately for the Packers, general manager Brian Gutekunst has had two extremely good drafts in a row. The 2022 NFL Draft saw Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, and Rasheed Walker added to the offense. All four played significant roles on the team in 2023 and are projected to be long-term starters going forward.
The 2023 NFL Draft saw Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft, and Dontayvion Wicks added. Again, all four played significant role on the offense this past season, giving fans hope that it will not be long until the Packers’ offense returns to being a top-five NFL powerhouse.
One big question, though, that is currently hanging over the head of the offense in Green Bay is the future of David Bakhtiari. After playing just 13 games in the past three seasons, the three-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract and carries a massive salary cap hit. Due to these factors, one team insider does not think Bakhtiari is long for Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers Insider Cannot See a World in Which David Bakhtiari Returns in 2024
In a recent mailbag article on The Athletic, Packers insider Matt Schneidman was asked if he thought Bakhtiari would be back in Green Bay n
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ext year. He responded:
“No. Anything is possible, but I’d be stunned if Bakhtiari is back. He’s elite when healthy, but the Packers can’t count on him to be consistently healthy anymore, even if all parties think his latest knee surgery is finally what Bakhtiari needs to be in the clear. Not only that, but the Packers can free up a massive amount of cap space by cutting or trading Bakhtiari. Teams know the Packers will cut him if they can’t trade him, so I anticipate a release, but you never know what the Jets will do for Aaron Rodgers’ close friend.”
Ever since Aaron Rodgers was traded by the Packers to the New York Jets, there have been rumblings that Bakhtiari would eventually follow. Rodgers’ list of perspective teammates, which he denies existed, was said to include Bakhtiari on it.
The Green Bay Packers Can Save Millions By Cutting David Bakhtiari
As everyone is well aware by now, Bakhtiari carries the biggest salary cap hit of any player on the Packers’ roster in 2024. With a cap hit of just under $40 million, he would not be on the roster for that amount even if Green Bay retains him. A more likely scenario, as Schneidman notes, is that the team releases or trades him.
If/when they do this, they will have a dead cap hit of roughly $19 million, saving close to $21 million in the process.
General manager Brian Gutekunest said last week that he anticipates being able to do just about whatever he wants to do in free agency, and releasing or trading Bakhtiari may be a key reason why.
