The Green Bay Packers made a couple of tough decisions this offseason in terms of long-time players who were beloved by the fanbase. Aaron Jones was released when he declined to take another pay cut in order to stay on the roster. He subsequently signed with the Minnesota Vikings for just $1 million more than Green Bay was willing to pay him.
Going into the offseason, just about everyone expected Jones to be back. Even general manager Brian Gutekunst said that he fully expected that Jones would return in 2024. He obviously underestimated Jones, who had already taken a significant pay cut in order to play for the Packers in 2023. In any case, Jones’ departure was an unfortunate surprise, and the fact that he signed with a division rival was like rubbing salt in the wound.
Another heartbreaking departure was that of five-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, who missed all but the first game of last season with a knee injury. He still remains a free agent, though that could be changing very soon.
Former Green Bay Packers Left Tackle David Bakhtiari Has Been Linked to the Washington Commanders
On Tuesday, a Chicago Bears fan (of all people) posted on X, wondering aloud how Bakhtiari was still a free agent given the number of teams that are still in need of a left tackle. Bakhtiari responded to the post:
The question is, of course, which team is the other end of talks that will soon be heating up?
One NFL analyst believes it is the Washington Commanders. Evan Winter of A to Z Sports wrote:
“Bakhtiari would have to show his knee is good enough to provide effective play and even then, it’ll be anyone’s guess as to how long he actually lasts. It’s been setback after setback with his knees (not his fault, of course) to where a team will be taking on a significant gamble in terms of his availability.
“But, there are ways to mitigate those concerns. The Commanders could offer Bakhtiari an incentivized contract based on playing time, just like the New York Jets did with Tyron Smith, a left tackle with his own lengthy injury history. The more Bakhtiari plays, the more money he makes. It’s that simple.
“We’ll see what happens, but this is certainly a feasible pairing that can work out if both parties want it to happen.”
The Commanders, of course, have a new young quarterback in Jayden Daniels and, obviously, want to do whatever they can to best protect him. Bakhtiari, when healthy, is still among the best left tackles in the game and would be exactly what they need in DC.
Would David Bakhtiari Sign with the Washington Commanders?
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bakhtiari said that his rehab is going well and that he believes he can still play on a high level for a couple more years. He also said that it is his desire to finally win a Super Bowl.
The Commanders, despite having Daniels, are far from being a Super Bowl contender. It may be easy for the casual fan to think that Bakhtiari should take whatever offer he can get. Those fans underestimate both Bakhtiari and how much teams are willing to pay for good tackle depth.
Washington does need Bakhtiari, or a player of his caliber, but the five-time All-Pro may find an offer from a contender that he likes better.
