Former Green Bay Packers star left tackle David Bakhtiari is still not ready to turn his back on professional football. During a recent appearance on The Adam Schefter Podcast, Bakhtiari said he hopes to play in the NFL for “another couple of years.”
Several years ago, Bakhtiari was considered one of the best, if not the best, left tackles in the league. He made an All-Pro team every year from 2016 to 2020 while also becoming the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history after inking a four-year, $105.5 million extension with the Packers in 2020.
However, a series of knee issues, including a torn ACL, limited Bakhtiari to just 13 games since then and prompted Green Bay to release him after the 2023 campaign. Bakhtiari, who had fifth surgery on his knee in November, is now working to getting to full fitness and is optimistic about his future.
“My goal right now is just to make sure that I not only fully recover but I can withstand and play the game that I want to play but also play and be there for a team no matter what,” Bakhtiari said via ESPN. “I’m not a reliever guy, I am your cornerstone guy. Someone that’s not only going to play in September but in December and into February and obviously hopefully for another couple of years.”
Bakhtiari added that he received plenty of interest from teams around the league but decided to remain a free agent until he felt fully healthy enough to deal with the demands of playing football at the highest level. He expects to have a new team between training camp and the start of the 2024 season.
