The Green Bay Packers made the difficult decision to cut five-time All Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari earlier this offseason. The three-time Pro Bowl selection was set to carry a salary cap hit of $40 million in 2024, but after playing just 13 games in the past three seasons, Green Bay did not want to risk carrying such a big salary into the season.
After all, 2022 seventh-round pick Rasheed Walker played well in relief of Bakhtiari last season. Furthermore, the Packers used three of their picks in the 2024 NFL Draft on offensive linemen, notably Jordan Morgan in the first round.
Bakhtiari remains a free agent as training camp and the preseason are well under way.
Former Green Bay Packers David Bakhtiari Has Dealt with Knee Injuries
From 2013, his rookie season, to 2019, Bakhtiari missed a grand total of six games. However, on December 31, 2020, the All-Pro left tackle tore his ACL during a non-contact drill at practice. The injury kept him out for the Packers’ final game and postseason run. Many fans argue that had he not gotten hurt, Green Bay could have come out victorious against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (led by Tom Brady) in the NFC Championship Game.
The injury also kept the perennial All-Pro (he made five-consecutive All-Pro teams between 2016-2020) out for most of the 2021 season as well. He returned for Green Bay’s final regular season game, but another injury kept him out for the postseason.
In 2022, Bakhtiari played in 11 of a possible 17 games. He was excellent when he played, but Green Bay still wanted to be cautious with his reconstructed knee. 2023 was supposed to be the year that he came back at full strength.
And it certainly looked that way in Week One against the Chicago Bears. Bakhtiari played a perfect game, manhandling pass rushers and flipping off the hostile crowd.
But after the game, it was revealed that Bakhtiari had re-injured his knee. Several more procedures would need to be done to get it back to where it needed to be.
His season, and tenure in Green Bay, was over.
The Cleveland Browns Are Urged to Sign Former Green Bay Packers Left Tackle David Bakhtiari
The good news is that Bakhtiari is finally healthy. He is ready to contribute for any NFL team that needs tackle depth. The bad news is that no team has signed him yet.
That could change shortly as the Cleveland Browns saw three of their offensive linemen leave their most recent preseason game with injuries. Barry Shuck of SB Naton urged the Browns to sign Bakhtiari by writing, “He played 11 years for the same team, the Green Bay Packers, and solidified the left tackle spot with meanness and focus. He has 131 NFL starts and earned three Pro Bowls, was named First Team All-Pro twice, and Second Team All-Pro three different seasons. Extremely experienced too. He’s plug-and-play.
“Bahktiari was placed on injured reserve on September 28, 2023, with a knee injury. In October it was announced that he would miss the entire season. In the spring before training camp this year, Green Bay released him as they were leaning younger along their offensive line.
“He still has explosiveness in his game and he is completely healthy. The hallmark of Bakhtiari’s play has always been great feet with violent, choppy footwork. He can move with discipline and urgency, and is a locker room leader and a fan favorite.”
While his own injury history is worrisome, it also makes him inexpensive. In other words, Bakhtiari would be a low-risk-high-reward signing for a Browns team hoping to keep pace with the rest of their division.
