The Kansas City Chiefs have one significant problem with their offense heading into training camp: left tackle. A five-time All-Pro at the position appears to have interest in teaming up with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense this season.
David Bakhtiari is without an NFL team for the first time since the Green Bay Packers drafted him in 2013. The Packers had to cut Bakhtiari loose for financial reasons, as he had not been a reliable starter in recent seasons due to setbacks with his knee.
5X All-Pro has more to give
As previously discussed on GH, Bakhtiari believes he has more to give:
Even though he’s not yet signed for the upcoming season, Bakhtiari remains hopefulabout his NFL career. The former Packers star expressed his thoughts in an article by posted on ESPN.
“My goal right now is just to make sure that I not only fully recover but I can withstand and play the game that I want to play but also play and be there for a team no matter what,” Bakhtiari said. “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…
“I don’t like other people writing my story … I couldn’t just put a period, close the book and leave it,” Bakhtiari said he recently told Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair of his career. “… I just got to kind of remind people. People have kind of forgotten the kind of player I was, the kind of player I am,” ESPN stated.
David Bakhtiari would team up with Patrick Mahomes
Bakhtiari gave a hint as to where he wants to play for the 2024 season, and the Chiefs would be the most logical option based on his word choice. Bakhtiari told Adan Schefter with ESPN that he wants to play with the next MVP of the Super Bowl. As Pete Sweeney with Arrowhead Pride points out, Mahomes would be Bahktiari’s best bet:
The last two (and three of the last five) Super Bowl MVP awards have gone to the same player: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
So Bakhtiari is interested in Kansas City. Should Kansas City be interested in him?
Kansas City Chiefs fans want Bakhtiari
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Sweeney posted a poll to ask Chiefs fans if they should sign Bakhtiari. As of this publication, 72 percent of fans voted that they wanted the Chiefs to sign Bakhtiari.
The Chiefs currently have a training camp battle set up between Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia for the left tackle job. Bakhtiari would be an upgrade for the Chiefs if he’s healthy. If the Chiefs can sign him at a discount, they may as well Bakhtiari because they have the depth to replace him.
Bakhtiari would get a chance to chase a ring, and the Chiefs would have an elite contributor for their three-peat chance.
