By the time David Bakhtiari was released by the Packers earlier this month, the move did not come as a surprise. The injury-plagued left tackle is on the market, but he hopes to have found a new home by the time the 2024 season kicks off. 
Green Bay cut Bakhtiari at the beginning of the legal tampering period, following through on the expectation the team would make a decision concerning his future before the start of free agency later that week. No serious interest is known to have picked up amongst potential suitors as teams turn their attention to healthier options. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the 31-year-old is rehabbing with the intention of playing this season.
From 2016-20, Bakhtiari was one of the league’s premiere blindside protectors. He earned three Pro Bowl invitations along with five total All-Pro nods (two first-team, three second-team) during that span. However, things took a turn for the worse with a knee injury which ended his 2020 campaign and limited him to a single contest the following year.
The Colorado alum managed to suit up 11 times in 2022, but this past season he was once again sidelined for all but one game. With the Packers having made draft investments up front to find a replacement for him, Bakhtiari is now faced with the task of finding a new team for the first time in his career. As one of several players known to be close with Aaron Rodgers, he was floated as a potential Jets addition.
New York’s offensive line has seen a number of new arrivals, however. That includes the signing of Tyron Smith on a one-year deal to serve as the team’s left tackle (if he can remain healthy, something which has proven to be an issue for him much like Bakhtiari). The latter was reported to be a candidate to sign with the Jets only on the condition he compete for a first-team role; that would of course especially be the case now that Smith is in the fold.
At this point in the offseason, teams often hold off on deals with low-cost veterans until after the draft has taken place. In Bakhtiari’s case, a market will of course only be generated when he demonstrates a return to health. If that takes place over the coming weeks or months, though, it will be interesting to see if he manages to land a deal ahead of the coming season.
Vikings need depth
The move should not have come as a surprise.
Who did the move come as a surprise to?
Steelers could use some help at tackle
Dan Moore would probably be a great 3rd guy/swing tackle. Unfortunately he’s miscast as a starter on this roster. Since the Steelers have been shooting for the greatest potential upside at the lowest cost all offseason the Steelers should be in on Bakhtiari’s market. But im sure they’re waiting until after the draft in case their best pick in the first round is a tackle based on who’s available.
Him being 31 is more of the surprise to me. He should still be playing well, but a torn ACL and major knee injuries are bad when you weigh 300+lbs.
We just saw Ryan Jensen be done when his knee tore.
31 also surprised me, he was 36 in my mind the last few years
He’s shot. His knees have ended his career. Move on.
But only on real grass when he’s between knee surgeries.
Patriots need a LT really bad. A one year deal would allow a new draftee OT to learn from one of the best.
Someone will sign him and get maybe one or two games from him before he gets re-injured. He would do himself a favor by hanging up the cleats but for guys who have known nothing but football since they were in Pop Warner leagues…it’s very hard to walk away.
He has learned from an expert at how to bilk money from the club. He will likely get some kind of a contract that pays him dearly for little of his services, robbing some other poor soul of an opportunity.
An expensive bench warmer …