The Green Bay Packers must take action to free up salary cap space during this offseason. Despite a surprising $30 million increase in the 2024 salary cap, which alleviates some pressure, the Packers still have work to do. Notably, Aaron Jones and Preston Smith carry significant cap hits of $17.02 million and $16.51 million, respectively, and the team aims to retain them for another season. However, this necessitates creating space elsewhere. While the expanded cap might lessen the need for restructuring numerous contracts, ultimately, parting ways with beloved players appears unavoidable.
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Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus identified the primary candidate for each team’s roster cuts in the upcoming offseason. For the Packers, the choice aligns with expectations: David Bakhtiari emerges as the most logical cap casualty. Bakhtiari, a fan favorite and a player with a distinguished career in Green Bay, seems destined for departure.
His exit appears imminent due to financial considerations. Remaining inactive would saddle the team with a substantial $40.02 million cap hit for the final year of Bakhtiari’s contract, which is unfeasible given the imperative to create cap space. Releasing or trading Bakhtiari would yield nearly $21 million in savings, presenting the most significant opportunity for the Packers to free up resources for free agency.
The timing seems opportune, considering Bakhtiari’s injury-prone recent seasons. Despite his exceptional abilities when healthy, evidenced by a stellar performance in the season opener against the Chicago Bears, his availability has been limited. With promising alternatives at tackle in Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, the Packers could opt to bolster depth through the draft.
Bakhtiari’s potential contributions to a contending team remain noteworthy, particularly if he can maintain his health in 2024. Nonetheless, given the constraints of the salary cap, his future likely lies outside Green Bay.
