National media outlet names the Packers player most likely to be released this offseason
Pro Football Focus recently named the most likely players to be released this offseason and they went with a popular veteran for the Green Bay Packers. PFF's Brad Spielberger thinks offensive lineman David Bakhtiari is the most likely Packers player to be released this offseason. From PFF: This will be a momentous decision for the Packers, […]
Pro Football Focus recently named the most likely players to be released this offseason and they went with a popular veteran for the Green Bay Packers.
PFF's Brad Spielberger thinks offensive lineman David Bakhtiari is the most likely Packers player to be released this offseason.
This will be a momentous decision for the Packers, which may be impacted by quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ decision to either return for another title run or seek a trade. Bakhtiari is unquestionably one of the best pass protectors in the entire NFL when healthy — he earned a near-elite 87.8 pass-blocking grade in 2022, which was his lowest mark since 2015 — but his knee injury effectively warrants a daily status update at this point, which may make it hard to justify paying him $17.5 million in 2023 after logging 624 total snaps over the past two seasons.
I get why Spielberger listed Bakhtiari — the former Colorado standout has missed a significant amount of action over the last three seasons.
But I just don't see Green Bay making this move.
For starters, there's the Aaron Rodgers connection. Bakhtiari is close with Rodgers and if the future Hall of Fame quarterback returns in 2023, the Packers need to surround him with the best possible players. In addition to being close with Rodgers, Bakhtiari is one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL when he's healthy.
The other reason is the salary cap situation.
Releasing Bakhtiari won't save Green Bay much cap space.
The Packers would only save around $5 million by releasing Bakhtiari and they'd be hit with a $23 million dead cap hit.
If they release him after the 2023 season, the Packers would save $21 million in cap space with an $11.5 million dead cap hit. That seems much more likely.
Maybe the Packers decide to go full rebuild and move on from Bakhtiari. Anything is possible in the NFL. But it would be surprising if that's the path Green Bay takes.
Featured image via Mark Hoffman, Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal
