Gutekunst confirmed what PackersNews reported earlier this week that he is working with LT David Bakhtiari on restructuring his contract. He expects the deal to be done soon and Bakhtiari to be back on the team this year. Packers are also working on something with NT Kenny Clark.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) February 28, 2023
A contract restructuring is in the works that will keep left tackle David Bakhtiari in Green Bay for the 2023 season, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst relayed the news while meeting with Silverstein and the local Green Bay media in Indianapolis before his scheduled media appearance at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Bakhtiari’s contract runs through the 2024 season and includes a $9.5 million roster bonus in 2023. The Packers could convert the roster bonus and some of his base salary into a signing bonus, add void years to the deal and drastically lower his cap hit in 2023.
As it stands currently, Bakhtiari’s cap hit this year is over $28 million.
A restructuring would guarantee Bakhtiari is back in Green Bay at a lower cap hit in 2023 but would push cap dollars into the future, potentially creating a massive dead cap hit when his deal ends in 2024.
The Packers have already restructured the contracts of running back Aaron Jones, cornerback Jaire Alexander and outside linebacker Preston Smith. Bakhtiari could be next, and Kenny Clark is also likely to happen.
Bakhtiari returned from his “nightmare” recovery from three knee surgeries and played at a high level over 11 games in 2022. The Packers believe the knee issues are a thing of the past with Bakhtiari, a five-time All-Pro who missed all but one game during the 2021 season a Brian Gutekunst after suffering the significant knee injury on Dec. 31 of 2020.
According to Pro Football Focus, Bakhtiari allowed 10 pressures (zero sacks) and committed five penalties over 597 total snaps in 2022.
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