On Monday, the Green Bay Packers announced that they are releasing All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari. Before being cut, Bakhtiari was the longest-tenured player on the Packers’ roster.
The Packers saying goodbye to one of their franchise legends was likely a financial decision as the move comes with $21 million in cap savings. Green Bay will also incur a dead cap hit of $19 million.
“David is one of the best offensive linemen that has played in the NFL during my time in the league. His consistency and approach to his craft is unmatched,” said head coach Matt LaFleur in a statement. “David’s presence extended beyond his impact on the field, as he was a cornerstone of the Packers in the locker room when I arrived and was a great resource to our young team.
Bakhtiari was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft and proved to be an absolute steal for the Packers. Becoming a starter in his rookie year, Bakhtiari went on to receive five All-Pro selections and three Pro Bowl nods by the time the 2020 season wrapped up. During that campaign, he also signed a four-year, $105.5 million contract extension, which made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
However, Bakhtiari’s career has taken a drastic turn since then. He missed all but one game in 2021 due to an ACL injury and was limited to 11 games the season after. In 2023, he continued to experience problems with his knee and ended up playing just one game.
Despite the injury issues, Bakhtiari is expected to garner significant interest in the free agent market. The New York Jets are mentioned as a possible destination where he would reunite with his former Packers teammate, Aaron Rodgers.
