Key Takeaways:
– Green Bay Packers may part ways with David Bakhtiari due to salary cap and health issues.
– The franchise aims to replace him with a top tackle prospect through a “dream trade scenario.”
– Options for Bakhtiari’s replacement include Joe Alt of Notre Dame and Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Penn State.
– Green Bay would have to make significant draft trades to move from 25th to a spot where they could select Alt or Fashanu.
– ESPN’s mock draft points to Kingsley Suamataia from BYU as a potential choice for the Packers.
With salary cap restrictions and deteriorating health posing significant challenges, the Green Bay Packers are most likely bidding farewell to David Bakhtiari in the upcoming offseason. The team has set its sights on a strategic plan to fill the void— a consideration that might come to include an ambitious trade to secure a prime young talent.
The Opportunity to Grab Top Tackle Prospects
Kristopher Knox from Bleacher Report envisions on Tuesday, February 20, that Green Bay could surge in NFL’s April draft. The goal? To secure a high-quality prospective replacement for Bakhtiari in arguably the most crucial slot of the offensive line. If Green Bay decides to part ways with Bakhtiari, a trade for a top-level tackle player, such as Joe Alt from Notre Dame or Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu would certainly fit the bill.
However, capturing such a star would be a big ask. Given the Packers’ 25th overall position, rising high enough to clinch either Alt or Fashanu—ranked fifth and sixth on Bleacher Report’s draft board—will be no simple task.
If there is an unexpected preference for quarterbacks, either Alt or Fashanu may slip from the top 10. Although this circumstance would still require Green Bay to make a considerable leap, a trade could potentially become manageable. Despite the hefty cost of such a move, Alt and Fashanu, as elite tackle prospects, could lock down Green Bay’s left tackle position for the next decade and beyond.
High Stakes for Alt or Fashanu Trade
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN suggests in his 2024 mock draft that Alt could be the seventh pick by the Tennessee Titans and Fashanu the tenth by the New York Jets. With the Packers seated at No. 25, moving up becomes a complex task. Despite this, Kiper concurs with the strategy of the Packers targeting a new offensive tackle in the draft’s first round.
In a different scenario, Kiper considers Kingsley Suamataia, BYU’s tackle, as the sixth tackle getting drafted. He commended Suamataia’s promise shown throughout his 23 starting Cougar games in the past two seasons. However, Knox’s dream scenario has the Packers rising to the top 10 or just shy of it, snatching either Alt or Fashanu.
One suggestion involves Bakhtiari being traded to the Jets as part of a larger package—an idea that might attract quarterback Aaron Rodgers due to his personal and professional relationship with Bakhtiari. If this trade doesn’t materialize, Green Bay would have to concede multiple draft assets, along with the 25th pick, to get within reach of Alt or Fashanu.
Parting Ways with Bakhtiari: Practical or Not?
With one season left on his four-year contract worth $92 million, Bakhtiari’s 2024 salary cap figure is close to $40 million. Green Bay could save approximately $21 million by letting him go, a significant adjustment as Bakhtiari approaches his 33rd birthday. His knee health issues over the past three seasons have left him unable to perform in all but 13 regular-season games.
The Packers’ young, talented offensive squad requires financial support, and high-profile quarterback Jordan Love awaits a colossal deal. The Packers need to prioritize insurance for their star player and cannot afford to cut corners. While Bakhtiari’s departure may be inevitable, the success of this ambitious ‘dream trade scenario’ hangs in the balance.