Packers: 4 potential trade destinations for David Bakhtiari

The Green Bay Packers already traded star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, signaling a youth movement and a rebuild on their roster. Would they trade another star in left tackle David Bakhtiari?

There’s a compelling case to be made, as long as it’s after June 1st. Acme Packing Company’s “rcon14” made an in-depth pitch to trade him, which you can read here. The main takeaway is that the Packers would save a bunch of salary cap space by moving Bakhtiari, whose hit balloons to $40.5 million in 2024.

Green Bay has a couple of routes to reduce his cap hit next year. If they cut him after the season, they would save $21.5 million, but absorb a massive cap hit of $19 million. They would also lose him for nothing. They could trade him before June 1st, adding $17 million to this year’s cap. That’s money they don’t have.

There isn’t much difference if they trade him after June 1st or cut him next year from a salary cap perspective. They’d save just $2.25 million this year and still have to pay the $19 million cap hit next year. However, they’d (presumably) get draft picks instead of watching him walk for nothing.

If that’s the case, let’s check out four teams who could be interested in his services.

If the Green Bay Packers want to trade star left tackle David Bakhtiari, four potential teams would be interested in his services.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks used the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Charles Cross, who started every game at left tackle last year. However, Bakhtiari could enter the equation and allow Cross to adjust to the NFL game’s speed (he was PFF’s 54th-ranked tackle last season) or slide over to the right side. Seattle is looking to build off their magical 2022 campaign, and adding a veteran like Bakhtiari could help inject some leadership and talent into their roster.

Cincinnati Bengals

It feels like Joe Burrow has been running for his life since he entered the NFL, as the Bengals have failed to put a quality offensive line in front of him. He was the fourth-most sacked quarterback in 2022. Bakhtiari’s addition would allow them to kick Orlando Brown Jr. to the right side and give them a great duo on the outside. That should help stabilize Burrow’s life and enable him to take the next step in the game.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo already has a good left tackle in Dion Dawkins, but Bakhtiari could take over on the left side and have Dawkins move to right tackle, where they have a massive question mark. That would be quite the sacrifice from Dawkins. However, there isn’t a perfect match for Bakhtiari and any team acquiring him would have to move some players around.

New York Jets

The best team who could use his services is, ironically, the New York Jets. They have the biggest hole at the position, would require minimal reconfiguration, are a championship contender, and have Bakhtiari’s best friend playing quarterback for them.

Such a deal, however, would complicate the trade compensation New York is already sending Green Bay and increase the chances it would be a worse pick. The Packers may look for a 2025 draft pick as a result, but setting aside the previous deal, this trade makes the most sense.