Trouble in Paradise? Packers All Pro Raises Concerns about GB’s 2023 Team
K. Joudry
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From 1992 onward, the Green Bay Packers have found themselves in a remarkably fortunate position. Brett Favre joined the Pack for the ’92 season and stuck around until 2007. After Favre’s departure, GB pivoted toward Aaron Rodgers, who has put together his own Hall of Fame career.
The three decades of stellar QB play is nearly unprecedented in the NFL, an insanely fortuitous stretch for the cheeseheads. Can it continue with Jordan Love now that Rodgers is looking to take off? Well, according to a Packers All Pro, the team is probably moving toward a rebuild, at least in the short term.
The Prophecy from a Packers All Pro
David Bakhtiari is a sensational left tackle. The only thing that has proven capable of slowing him down is injury. When on the field, he’s a nightmare to matchup with since he can neutralize some of the game’s best pass rushers.
Recently, the 31-year-old offensive tackle cast doubt on his team’s ability to continue succeeding without Rodgers in the saddle. He was a guest on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast. While there, the o-lineman spent several minutes discussing his team and the impending departure of Mr. Rodgers.
David Bakhtiari is expecting a rebuild in the Land of Cheese & Snow: “Could the Packers be really good? Yeah, I certainly would love that and hope so. But also I’d be ignorant to say that, does this look like a rebuild? Probably.”
Hearing Bakhtiari speak so candidly about GB’s upcoming misfortune is somewhat jarring. One has to assume Green Bay’s leadership doesn’t love the response. Vikings fans, meanwhile, are likely thrilled to hear about the Packers’ supposed demise coming from the mouth of one of their absolute best players (who is still under contract).
Perhaps some starting experience will allow Love to keep the good times rolling for Green Bay, but most of Minnesota’s fans are hoping that won’t be the case.
The left tackle joined the NFL in 2013. He was a 4th-round selection of the Packers, a crazy reality given how great he is on the football field.
As a rookie, he started all 16 games, thus kicking off an amazing stretch of longevity. He did, however, miss 4 games in 2020, all but 1 game in 2021, and then 6 games in 2022. He has been a first-team All Pro a couple times, a second-team All Pro a few times, and been to the Pro Bowl in 2016, 2019, and 2020.
Currently, he’s carrying a $21,336,249 cap hit. Once Rodgers gets moved – assuming he still does – the veteran LT will have the single largest cap hit on the Packers’ roster. He’ll be trying to let Love shine in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
Based off his comments, though, there isn’t too much optimism about competing in 2023.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
