The Packers made a move many knew was coming, official on Monday, by releasing three-time Pro Bowl and two-time First-Team All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari.
“We want to thank David for an exceptional 11 seasons in Green Bay. From the moment he arrived, David established himself as one of the premier tackles of his generation and one of the best linemen in the history of the Packers,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said in a statement on Monday. “His commitment and impact on the field and in the locker room cannot be overstated. We look forward to his inevitable induction into the Packers Hall of Fame and we hope for the best for David and his family moving forward.”
The transaction saved Green Bay $20.1 million in cap space, which in tandem with Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones’ release (saved the Packers about $12 million), allowed them to sign Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs (four-year, $48 million contract) and safety Xavier McKinney (four-year, $68 million contract).
Bakhtiari, the 32-year-old left tackle, has only played in 13 games since the start of the 2021 season, struggling to recover from tearing his ACL in practice on New Year’s Eve in 2020 in the midst of his latest First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl season. Bakhtiari was named a Pro Bowler or an All-Pro (first or second team) every year from 2016-2020, and his three Pro Bowl selections are tied for the fourth-most by an offensive lineman in Green Bay Packers history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg (nine), Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Ringo (seven) and Gale Gillingham (five). He spent 11 seasons in Green Bay after being selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Colorado.
In his only game played in 2023, the Packers’ 38-20 Week 1 win at the Chicago Bears, Bakhtiari was perfect: he did not allow a sack, quarterback hit, quarterback hurry or a quarterback…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/packers-release-david-bakhtiari-save-just-over-20-million-in-cap-room-with-cut/
Author : Garrett Podell
Publish date : 2024-03-11 22:47:06
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