Brian Gutekunst confirms Green Bay Packers will not trade David Bakhtiari

Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari may want to be teammates again. But don’t look to the Packers general manager to facilitate a trade.

In other words, letting go of a quality left tackle, even one with an iffy knee, is a no go. Or so says Brian Gutekunst at his Friday press availability.

“We’re not going to trade David,” Gutekunst said. “So let’s get that out of the way. It’s not going to happen.”

Brian Gutekunst makes it clear David Bakhtiari is his LT: "First of all, we're not going to trade David. So just get that out of the way."

Gutekunst says Bakhtiari is in "a good place" with his knee, knows how to handle it, preserve himself for the season.

— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 18, 2023

So why is there all this chatter about a reunion between Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari? Well, at least one former Packer player is speculating about it. Then Rodgers, himself, sent out a subtle hint about how much he still loves his guy who worked blindside security. The new Jets quarterback posted an Instagram story talking about his love for 17s. He used a photo of himself and Garrett Wilson, a budding star with the Jets. And he tagged former Packer and current Raider Davante Adams.

You’d have to look hard for a reference to Bakhtiari. Rodgers branded his own butt with a tag to the tackle’s Instagram account.

Now, it’s a confirmed fact that Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari are long-time bros. Last summer, the tackle was so happy that the quarterback decided to stay in Green Bay, that he bought Rodgers a golf cart to zip around at Packers headquarters.

Earlier this week, Kurt Benkert, who played with the Packers for parts of two seasons, predicted a Rodgers-Bakhtiari reunion during an interview with the Up & Adams podcast. Benkert says it will happen at Florham Park, N.J., aka Jets headquarters. Bakhtiari’s contract expires at the end of 2024. So if the Packers don’t trade him, he’ll have to wait. And Rodgers is going to be 40 the week after Thanksgiving. There’s no guarantee he’ll be around until 2025.

“I think if anyone (other Packer) ends up there, it’s going to be David simply because he gets tagged in every single picture that Aaron posts on Instagram still,” Benkert said. “And there’s just there’s a saga there. They’re like, they love each other. And Aaron misses his golf cart, I’m sure.”

When Rodgers was traded to the Jets, Bakhtiari posted a sentimental message on his Instagram, saying goodbye to one of his best friends.

“Well. I hate goodbyes, and this one especially,” David Bakhtiari wrote to Aaron Rodgers. “The chapter is over on this one, but this friendship is a lifetime. You’ve been so instrumental in my life and I just wanna say thank you. And I love you brother. So enough with the sobby stuff. Here’s a fun collage with some of the good times we’ve had over the years all bundled together and tied with your favorite band. Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Then the two headed to the Kentucky Derby.

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A post shared by David Bakhtiari (@davidbakhtiari)

Bakhtiari’s main goal probably is getting his knee in good enough shape to keep playing. He’s only participated in 12 games since he tore his ACL on New Year’s Eve 2020. So all this talk of the two buds playing on the same team is sweet. But football reality says no way.