The New York Jets lit the NFL on fire in the spring of 2023 when they traded for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Unfortunately, the hype that surrounded the Jets throughout the offseason and their Hard Knocks documented training camp was greater than their regular season outcome. Rodgers tore his Achilles early in Week One and New York finished 7-10 for the second year in a row.
Even before the 2023 NFL season ended, there were plans being laid (or suggested by the media) for how the Jets could better build around Rodgers. While they certainly need more receiving weapons following the poor performances of his Packers teammates Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, they are in more desperate need of offensive linemen to protect the future Hall of Famer.
The New York Jets Have Long Been Linked to Former Green Bay Packers Left Tackle David Bakhtiari
When Rodgers was first traded to New York, there were many fans, both Packers and Jets fans, that wanted five-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari included in the trade. While Bakhtiari has long been a fan-favorite in Green Bay, his knee injury in 2020 and subsequent surgeries required him to miss all but 13 games over the last three seasons. Jets fans, knowing the poor state of their offensive line, wanted him to both appease Rodgers and provide stability in the trenches.
Despite both Bakhtiari and the Packers believing he was healthy to start the 2023 NFL season, Bakhtiari reinjured his knee in Green Bay’s Week One win over the Chicago Bears. As a result, he was out for the remainder of the season.
Even if he had been healthy, it was highly unlikely that the Packers would have kept him on for his $40 million cap hit in 2024. On Monday, the Packers officially made the decision to release Bakhtiari, saving nearly $21 million in cap space for the upcoming season.
David Bakhtiari Announced His Departure from the Green Bay Packers on Social Media
Before any NFL insider could break the news, Bakhtiari made the following post on X (formerly Twitter):
A lot of emotion in this. I just want to say THANK YOU Green Bay. Thank you for the last 11 years. It’s been a hell of a run. I always wanted to raise a Lombardi on Lombardi avenue, but I will never complain. I gave it my all. I always gave it my best no matter the circumstance… pic.twitter.com/dnc7gkKSAC
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) March 11, 2024
Of course, his post drew a great deal of responses from fans on social media, including his former teammate, Aaron Rodgers:
Aaron Rodgers Responds to David Bakhtiari’s Social Media Post
Rodgers posted the following after Bakhtiari’s message:
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) March 11, 2024
Which prompted Bakhtiari to post:
https://t.co/u0xNe51N76 pic.twitter.com/SQwZxYzOrz
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) March 11, 2024
Needless to say, Bakhtiari is probably at the very top of Rodgers’ list of players he would like the Jets to go out and get. Now that he is a free agent, a reunion between the two is almost a foregone conclusion.
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