The 2024 season will mark the dawning of a new era along the Green Bay Packers' offensive line, as the team moves on from David Bakhtiari.
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Monday, moments into the NFL's legal tampering period, Packers five-time All-Pro David Bakhtiari announced that the organization was releasing him.
"A lot of emotion in this," Bakhtiari posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). "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 and to me, that truly was enough. My 32 year old self is so damn proud of that 21 year old with no facial hair, bushy tail kid that just wanted to do his best. I'm so proud of you. For whatever happens next, I look forward to it.
"To the city and fans all across the world, I just want to say thank you. To the entire organization, Thank you. To entire coaching staffs, Thank you. To the entire support staff, Thank you. To my wife and daughter (Frankie and Felix): I hope you are proud. To my family (Debbie, Karl, Eric, Andrew, and Danielle): I hope I represented our name with pride these past 11 years in Green Bay. I cannot thank everyone, so I hope this post will suffice. Don't cry because it's over. Smile, because it happened"
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
Green Bay moving on from Bakhtiari was expected, as the move would create approximately $20 million in cap space as free agency gets underway.
Bakhtiari, one of the premier offensive tackles of his generation, has battled through myriad injuries in recent years, including most recently tearing his ACL in 2022 and only appearing in one game during the 2023 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair his injured knee.
Prior to getting released, Bakhtiari had spent his entire career in Green Bay, after being chosen by the Packers in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Bakhtiari had been entering the final year of his contract, and set to make $10.7 million in 2024. Now, the 30-year-old is free to sign with any team, as an unrestricted free agent.
