Green Bay Packers uncertain if David Bakhtiari will return to team

The Green Bay Packers have a tough decision looming on the status of offensive tackle David Bakhtiari. The veteran lineman’s contract delivers a massive hit to the team’s cap space for 2024, and his health over the last three seasons has the front office exploring options.

Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst discussed Bakhtiari’s contract this week amid speculation that the team will opt to cut him. He’s been with the team since they drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft and he became the only rookie to start at left tackle that year. Deciding to part ways with him to save money won’t be an easy choice.

“We’re still at the very beginning stages of looking at how we’re going to move forward with all that,” Gutekunst said. “Obviously, David’s been through a really rough stretch with the injury stuff. He’s going through a very major surgery, trying to get back to where he’s able to play. We’re monitoring that. I know he’s working his tail off. Once we’re down the road and see where he’s at health-wise, we’ll make those decisions.”

Packers facing hard decision on Bakhtiari

Bakhtiari, now 32 years old, has a cap hit of more than $40 million for the 2024 season. Green Bay can save at least half of that by releasing him before the start of the season. He signed a four-year, $105.5 million extension in November 2020, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history at the time.

Bakhtiari has suited up in just 13 games since tearing his ACL in December 2020. After playing in 11 games last season, Bakhtiari was back at left tackle for the 38-20 Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears. Bakhtiari looked like his All-Pro self in the win, but his knee began swelling in the days after. The Packers placed him on injured reserve on Sept. 28.

In October, the lineman learned he would need another major surgery. It was a tough pill to swallow but with his recovery timeline, he could still be back by training camp this summer.

“The human side of it, it took a lot of stress, a lot of time on my end,” Bakhtiari said. “But the clarity is to know that we’re fine, we finally know what the problem is. And we can address the problem. That’s the, I guess, glass-half-full part of the scenario.

“So that’s where we’re at. That’s the pill I have to swallow.”

The Packers haven’t taken an offensive lineman in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft in years but that could change as they look to protect Jordan Love next season.