There has been a lot of turnover on the Green Bay Packers roster in the last few years. It has felt like a changing of the guard, especially this offseason with Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the team coming to an end. There aren’t many holdovers remaining from the last regime either, which was led by head coach Mike McCarthy.
But, there is one player who remains and is looking to cement his spot on the team for years to come; left tackle, David Bakhtiari. In the 2013 NFL Draft, the Packers selected Bakhtiari out of Colorado in the fourth round, No. 109 overall.
Getting any production from a mid-round pick like that is thought of as a win by franchises. But, finding a long-term, franchise left tackle? Now that is a major victory and one that has been recognized by Matt Miller and Jordan Reid of ESPN.
They recently put together a list of the 50 biggest NFL Draft steals from the last 10 years. The Packers found themselves on that list with the Bakhtiari selection, which landed at No. 11.
“As the ninth offensive tackle drafted in the 2013 NFL draft, Bakhtiari was slotted to backup longtime starter Bryan Bulaga. But Bulaga tore an ACL in training camp, and the Day 3 pick was thrust into the starting lineup and never left it. Since the 2013 season, he has been a five-time All-Pro, a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the league’s most consistent left tackles.”
Bakhtiari has been a stalwart when on the field for the Packers. In 10 seasons, he has played in 130 games, starting all of them. The last two seasons have been marred by injury concerns with his knee, which cost him all but one game in 2021 and held him to only 11 appearances in 2022.
During his tenure, Bakhtiari has been a dominating force in every regard. His 94.6 percent pass block win rate and 77.7 percent run block win rate are both very strong numbers.
This season is an important one for Bakhtiari, as it will determine his future with the franchise. His cap hit in 2024 of more than $40 million is an unrealistic number to pay and the team could save $21.5 million by releasing him.
But, if he plays well in 2023 and can stay healthy, an extension could be worked out. Having a lynchpin the caliber of Bakhtiari on the offensive line would be beneficial as Jordan Love attempts the tall task of replacing Rodgers as the team’s starting quarterback.