Former Packers OT David Bakhtiari explains late-season surgery, desire to play two more years

David Bakhtiari was once one of the most dominant left tackles in the NFL as he kept Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers upright and clean in the pocket.

But that was before Bakhtiari suffered a severe knee injury back on New Year’s Eve, 2020. He had his fifth surgery on the knee last November. In Bakhtiari’s case, you can’t be dominant if you can’t play. Then the Packers released him in March. And it wasn’t a surprise that Bakhtiari and Green Bay got a divorce. The tackle had played in only 13 games since his injury.

The 32-year-old still thinks he’s got some bounce left in the knees. That’s why he wants to sign with a team for this season, estimating he’s got at least two good years left. And if you’re thinking he’ll be satisfied with a backup role, that would a no.

Bakhtiari talked all about his knee during an interview this week on The Adam Schefter Podcast. Foremost, he wants to get his left knee healthy so he can “withstand and play the game I want to play.”

The former Packers tackle added: “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.”

Some teams have called to inquire about his availability. A good left tackle is one of the most coveted positions in the NFL. Bakhtiari, when he was healthy, was a two-time first-team All Pro. Maybe he’ll sign by training camp for some team. We’re about a month from camps across the NFL opening for preseason training.

The Packers selected Bakhtiari, the former Colorado Buffalo, in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was an immediate starter and dominant tackle for eight seasons.

Six weeks before he suffered the critical injury in 2020, the Packers awarded Bakhtiari with the largest contract ever for an NFL offensive lineman. It was a four-year deal worth up to $105.5 million. But Bakhtiari, through no fault of his own, struggled to stay on the field.

Since the first surgery, he’s had four more to repair damage to his ACL. The Packers cut him in March to avoid a $40 million hit to their salary cap. Although he played in only one game last season, Bakhtiari’s contract still made him the third highest-paid tackle in the NFL.

He decided to have his fifth surgery last November. He explained why.

“Look, I’ve been gritting through it for three years,” Bakhtiari said on the Schefter podcast. “I’m in constant pain. I’m so happy now to be on the other side of it and get the actual surgery that I needed because my knee was not in a good place.”

When the Packers traded Rodgers to the Jets last year, many around the NFL believed Bakhtiari would follow his best football friend to NYC. But the Jets don’t appear to be in the market for a tackle.

New York picked Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu in the first round of April’s draft. They also signed All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith in free agency. And they traded for right tackle Morgan Moses. 

When Bakhtiari sees the field again, he’ll be protecting another quarterback. He wants that chance.