The Green Bay Packers are a team many people will be keeping an eye on during the 2024 NFL offseason. Given the success they had in the 2023 season, it will be interesting to see what upgrades they make to their roster.
This was the youngest team in the NFL this season but that didn’t stop them from earning a Wild Card spot and winning a playoff game, dismantling the Dallas Cowboys during Super Wild Card Weekend. Their performance against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round, albeit in a loss, was also very encouraging.
The Packers have a few clear needs on their roster to address, but need to open up cap space to be able to spend. They are projected to have only $8 million in space right now, but that can quickly increase with a few moves.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: David Bakhtiari, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers Updates
One of those moves can be parting ways with left tackle David Bakhtiari. Bakhtiari is set to count nearly $40 million against the Packers’ salary cap in 2024, but releasing him would result in nearly $21 million in cap space being created.
However, instead of releasing him, a Packers writer has suggested that the team look to make a trade centered around him. Jacob Morley of Packer Report has shared a trade idea involving the New York Jets, sending Bakhtiari there to protect the blindside of Aaron Rodgers once again.
In Morley’s proposed idea, the Packers sent Bakhtiari, along with the Nos. 25 and 58 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick. This would be the second blockbuster in as many years completed between the teams.
The Packers would be happy with this deal as they not only move up in the first round but save some money on Bakhtiari’s contract. They still own a second-round pick in the draft, courtesy of the Jets from the Rodgers deal last year.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: David Bakhtiari, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers Updates
While Green Bay would be all for this deal, it is hard to imagine the Jets going for it. Their offensive line was a mess in 2023, as it has been in years past, because of injuries. Bringing on a player with a $40 million contract who has played in one game in two out of the last three seasons seems like an unnecessary risk.
While Rodgers would love to have another one of his former Packers teammates with him on the Jets, this is a deal New York would have no interest in. They would be better off spending ni free agency on a player that they have more confidence in staying healthy and on the field.
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