The Green Bay Packers have restructured David Bakhtiati’s contract, facilitating his inclusion in the Aaron Rodgers trade.
It’s no secret that Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari are friends. They’ve been teammates for nearly a decade, with Bakhtiari protecting Rodgers’ blind side – he’s basically eyes in the back of Aaron’s head.
So, in any trade that sends Rodgers to the New York Jets, could Bakhtiari follow? I made the case following a tweet from Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Thursday.
Packers Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wondered if David Bakhtiari might be part of the trade to New York. Bakhtiari and Rodgers are close, and there is no guarantee that the former will choose to continue his career without the latter.
Just a thought: What are the chances Rodgers might want LT David Bakhtiari to be part of the #Packers’ deal with the #Jets? It’s strange that his deal wasn’t reworked when all the others had been done for a while. It will cut $5 million from the GB cap if it trades before the 17th.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) March 8, 2023
Will the Packers continue to trade Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari?
Now, since this story was published, the Packers have restructured Bakhtiari’s contract, making it easier to move around.
The #Packers have restructured LT David Bakhtiari’s contract, sources say, and converted $9.5 million into a March roster bonus and $5.5 million of his 2023 base salary into a guaranteed signing bonus.
This would lower his $28.8 million cap he hit on Green Bay for maneuvers.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 10, 2023
He reduces Bakhtiari’s blow if Green Bay wants to trade him. Alternatively, if Bakhtiari stays, it gives them a cheaper brace on the offensive line, something any young quarterback needs as they develop.
Mark Murphy admitted Friday night that Rodgers’ days at Green Bay are mainly behind him. Bakhtiari, not much of a household name outside of Wisconsin, is little known at the moment.
“I can’t go into all the details,” Murphy told Action2 Sports’ Adriana Torres. “But it’s a situation where I think we wanted to help Aaron get what he wants, as well as the Packers, and hopefully create a situation where it’s kind of a win-win for both sides.”
Murphy admitted that he could see Rodgers return to the team as the starting quarterback – even after all this – if “things don’t turn out the way we want”.
Days are numbered number 12 as early in this juncture. Is Bakhtiari too?
