The Green Bay Packers and New York Jets made one blockbuster trade this offseason centered around future Hall of Famer, Aaron Rodgers. In recent days, there has been some chatter about another deal being done between the two teams.
On more than one occasion recently, left tackle David Bakhtiari has been mentioned as a trade target for the Jets. Given the uncertainty surrounding their offensive line, and the familiarity that Bakhtiari has protecting Rodgers’ blindside, the fit does make some sense.
However, it isn’t something that the Packers are going to be considering. General manager Brian Gutekunst shut down any talks of Bakhtiari being traded to the Jets or anywhere. He is going to be in Green Bay for at least the 2023 season.
“First of all, we’re not going to trade David, so let’s just get that out of the way because I know there’s been a little bit of chatter about that, but that’s not going to happen,” Gutekunst said Friday.
The Jets may be struggling to find consistent protection for Rodgers, but they are going to have to look elsewhere to find an upgrade. The Packers aren’t open for business when it comes to the availability of Bakhtiari.
The franchise is committed to helping Bakhtiari reach the level he achieved previously. Knee injuries have played a major part in slowing him down the last few seasons and the Packers want to do their best to help him get back to being an All-Pro.
“Dave’s a pro’s pro,” Gutekunst said. “I think he’s really in a good place now, understanding what he needs to do to get ready to play.”
Part of that understanding is accepting a new practice schedule. Bakhtiari has planned days off, as the team is hoping to keep him fresh and ready to go in the offseason. No unnecessary wear and tear will be applied during training camp.
While it is something Bakhtiari has admitted he doesn’t like, he knows it is for his own good. It doesn’t seem to be impacting him negatively, as he returned to practice this week against the New England Patriots and performed at a high level.
“He recognizes where we’re at and why he needs to be out there, but at the same time he knows when it’s time to back off. When we get into the season, there’s a lot of trust with him of what he needs to do to get ready to play,” Gutekunst said.
Extreme circumstances lead to extreme measures. The Packers are hoping this all helps Bakhtiari stay on the field and be available in the regular season. 2023 is a big year for him as he looks to get his career back on track.
