The Green Bay Packers faced significant challenges in the past two seasons as their star left tackle, David Bakhtiari, battled through a serious knee injury. Despite the setbacks, Bakhtiari continues to be a valuable asset for the team. Still, the upcoming season will serve as a crucial test for his recovery, and Bakhtiari has the opportunity to prove that he can maintain his elite-level performance while remaining healthy. If he does, there’s no reason the Packers shouldn’t keep him long-term.
After a torn ACL caused him to miss the playoffs in 2020, Bakhtiari’s road to recovery extended into the 2021 season. He was clearly limited in the half a game he played in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions, then missed the playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. In 2022, Bakhtiari’s return was marred by knee issues that led to him missing the first two weeks and a game against the Washington Commanders in Week 7. Additionally, he faced a case of appendicitis, causing him to miss three more games in December.
Nevertheless, Bakhtiari’s performance was nothing short of impressive. In some games, he shared playing time with Yosh Nijman to manage his workload. Still, he consistently played at a high level, surrendering a pressure every 33.9 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. That was better than Trent Williams, who is widely considered the best left tackle in football. Williams averaged a pressure allowed every 27.7 pass-blocking snaps. Bakhtiari concluded the season with a solid 79.8 PFF grade.
Theoretically, his recovery is complete, which means Bakhtiari enters 2023 with high expectations. The upcoming season presents an opportunity for him to demonstrate that he can maintain his high-level performance while staying healthy. Bakhtiari, 31, could have several years left in the tank. Many top tackles play well into their late 30s and even 40s. Trent Williams, 34, continues to dominate the position. Jason Peters and Andrew Whitworth are examples of tackles who played into their 40s.
“I really like how I’m feeling,” Bakhtiari said during Packers OTAs in May. “I have finally not had surgery for the first time in the last two or three offseasons. I had four surgeries in 20 months. That sucked, so finally to have a breath of fresh air – I get to have an offseason to train, to get away, to finally relax and not freak out my body.”
Contract and future
From a financial standpoint, Bakhtiari’s cap hit for the upcoming season is slated at $40.47 million. While the Packers will actually pay him $21.4 million, the higher cap hit reflects past restructures. If Bakhtiari can perform at a high level and avoid injury setbacks, Green Bay would likely feel comfortable offering him a contract extension. This would enable them to structure the contract, redistributing the money to future seasons and reducing the 2024 cap hit if necessary.
Nijman is an unrestricted free agent in 2024. If Bakhtiari plays well, the Packers could let Nijman walk in free agency and keep Bakhtiari and Zach Tom as the long-term tackles. If Bakhtiari has injury problems once again, the team’s front office will probably be forced to trade or cut Bakhtiari to extend Nijman.
Finding elite talent in the NFL is not easy, and David Bakhtiari has consistently proven himself to be among the league’s premier left tackles. Despite his recent injury history, he showcased his ability last season. That means the Packers don’t need to rush to part ways with him. If Bakhtiari remains healthy and delivers a strong performance in 2023, it will be a clear indication that he deserves a new contract. The left tackle indicated he’s motivated to make it happen.
“I want to dictate that (his future) as much as possible,” said Bakhtiari. “I know I’ll lean on Davante (Adams) – you can let everyone else write your story, or you can grab the pen and you can write it yourself. I fully intend on writing how this is going to end on the latter part of my career for me.”
The upcoming season serves as an imperative moment for Bakhtiari. He has the opportunity to prove his long-term viability. With the potential for a new contract extension, the Packers have an opportunity to secure their left tackle position for years to come. If Bakhtiari can continue to perform at an elite level while maintaining his health, Green Bay should have no hesitation in investing in his long-term future with the team.
