There are a lot of rumors about David Bakhtiari's future in the NFL. First, he needs to come back from another big knee surgery. Second, he and the Green Bay Packers need to determine if they want to keep the partnership. There are financial and roster-construction layers to it.

And there's also an always intriguing scenario of Bakhtiati's reunion with Aaron Rodgers, which would demand another trade between the Packers and the New York Jets.

However, Bakhtiari wrote on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) that he intends to play, and to play for the Packers next season.

That’s the plan!

— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) December 4, 2023

David Bakhtiari hasn't been able to be on the field consistently since he suffered a serious ACL injury in December, 2020. This year, he appeared in the week 1 game against the Chicago Bears, but the knee started to hinder him again. It demanded a new surgery, and he was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Bakhtiari is already under contract with the Packers for 2024, but that doesn't mean the deal guarantees he will be back. The left tackle is slated to make $21.4 million in 2024, and his cap hit will be $40.465 million.

At this point of his career and of the Packers roster, it's unlikely that general manager Brian Gutekunt would want Bakhtiari back for this price tag. The parties would probably need to sit down and find a contract middle ground.

Packers o-line situation

David Bakhtiari has been the Packers left tackle since his rookie year in 2013. Since he got injured in 2020, the team has rotated several players at the position — Elgton Jenkins, Billy Turner, Yosh Nijman, Zach Tom, and Rasheed Walker.

With Zach Tom established as a full-time starting right tackle now, former seventh-round pick Rasheed Walker has been the left tackle this year, but former starter Yosh Nijman has received snaps over the last month as well.

Without a clear answer at left tackle and with no guarantees that Bakhtiari will be back next season, the Packers might consider drafting a tackle in the first round in 2024. Moving Zach Tom to left tackle if Bakhtiari leaves could also be a consideration.

Tom and Walker are under contract through 2025, but Nijman is slated to be an unrestricted free agent.

Trade rumors

Because of the Packers roster situation, with so many young players, and considering Bakhtiari's age and price tag, there were a lot of rumors that the Packers could trade the left tackle to the Jets before the season.

However, general manager Brian Gutekunst said that moving Bakhtiari was not a possibility.

"First of all, we're not going to trade David," Gutekunst said back in August. "So let's just get that out of the way because I know there's been a little bit of chatter about that, and it's not going to happen."

Bakhtiari was seen as an integral part of the plan to help develop Jordan Love. The quarterback has been better even without the starting left tackle, so getting Bakhtiari back would be huge for the Packers long-term plans.

Bakhtiari is 32 years old. He's been an All-Pro left tackle five times in his career — twice a first-team All-Pro, in 2018 and 2020, and three times a second-team All-Pro, in 2016, 2017, and 2019. He's made the Pro Bowl thrice too (2016, 2019, and 2020).

David Bakhtiari contract situation creates layers for his future with the Packers

Left tackle is under contract through 2024