Former Packers QB has huge David Bakhtiari-Aaron Rodgers prediction
Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari, plagued with injury over the past few seasons, revealed on Friday that he'll undergo another knee surgery, ending his 2023 season. However, a former Packers quarterback believes Bakhtiari has played his final game in Green Bay period and will ultimately leave to join an old friend next season.
Shortly after Bakhtiari's announcement, former Packers QB Kurt Benkert took to social media predicting that the two-time All-Pro will join the New York Jets for the 2024 campaign, reuniting with Aaron Rodgers.
Benkert called it a "Double redemption tour," but for that to happen, Bakhtiari would have to be healthy enough to play, which isn't guaranteed. Since suffering a torn ACL in 2020, Bakhtiari has suited up for only 13 games over the past three seasons, nagged by repeated setbacks. However, Bakhtiari sounds confident he'll be ready to return by the start of 2024.
While the popular belief was that Bakhtiari's previous ACL injury was the root of his issues, he silenced those rumors while speaking with reporters Friday. Bakhtiari told Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal that he was dealing with a femoral condyles issue, which provides cushion to the knees, and that it wasn't related to his 2020 injury.
The only thing Bakhtiari doesn't seem clear on is what the Packers' plans are for him should he be ready to return next season. Bakhtiari said a decision on his future in Green Bay would come "later," but it's still a massive elephant in the room.
Bakhtiari signed a four-year, $92 million deal in 2020, months before his devastating knee injury. Since then, the Packers have converted his salary into signing bonuses, kicking his cap down the road for another time. Well, that time is approaching quickly. In 2024, Bakhtiari carries a $40.4 million cap hit if he plays and $19 million in dead cap if he can't, per Spotrac.
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