INDIANAPOLIS – The Green Bay Packers have a major financial decision looming with former All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari. Major but probably simple.
Bakhtiari is due a $20.2 million base salary in 2024. The Packers have no idea if the latest procedures done on his injured knee – the fourth and fifth since the initial injury was sustained on Dec. 31, 2020 – will have him ready to play in 2024 for at least a few more months. Meanwhile, the Packers only have two weeks to get their salary cap configured to build a roster for the upcoming season.
Bakhtiari’s cap charge for 2024 – his final season under contract – is about $40.02 million. That’s high-profile quarterback territory. If released, Bakhtiari would count as $19.08 million of dead money on the cap, the lingering impact of the $30 million signing bonus that was part of the four-year, $92 million contract extension signed in November 2020 and previous cap-saving contract restructures.
Bakhtiari played in only game last season – Week 1 against Chicago – before shutting it down and opting for surgery to, hopefully, get past his issues once and for all. He’s played in only 13 games the past three seasons.
In his place last season, 2022 seventh-round pick Rasheed Walker filled in admirably for the final 18 games (including playoffs). At this way-too-early juncture of the offseason, he’d be the starter for 2024.
“I certainly think he’s already shown that he’s done a great job,” Gutekunst said. “I want competition at all five spots, but Rasheed, the improvement in the work that he put in, it’s exactly what we want, and expect him to continue to get better. But he had pretty good year last year, he’s got a ton upside. Great person. And I’m excited to see where he’ll go.”
The Packers restructured Rashan Gary’s contract. That move got the Packers about $7.1 million under the salary cap. Moving on from Bakhtiari would push that past $28.0 million.
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