Breaking News: Packers to Draft David Bakhtiari’s Replacement With 1st-Round Pick

For months, it has been evident that the Green Bay Packers are heading towards parting ways with David Bakhtiari, their five-time All Pro left tackle. If the team decides to trade or more likely release Bakhtiari in the upcoming offseason, they will need to choose between transitioning full-time to Rasheed Walker, a seventh-round pick from 2022, at the crucial left tackle position or seeking to strengthen the left side of their offensive line through the NFL draft.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. supports the latter option. In his initial mock draft released on Tuesday, January 23, he predicts that the Packers will use their No. 25 overall pick in the first round to select Kingsley Suamataia from BYU, aiming to enhance the left side of their offensive line.

As mentioned earlier, the current tackle class is filled with talent, and if the Green Bay Packers have an opportunity to secure their future blindside protector, they should seize it. David Bakhtiari has been limited to just 25 games in the last four seasons due to recurring knee issues, including one game in 2023. The Packers cannot count on his reliable return.

Standing at 6 feet 6 inches, Suamataia has an impressive track record, having started 23 games for the Cougars in the last two seasons—12 at right tackle and 11 at left tackle. His potential was evident in the recent season, where he allowed only three sacks and a mere eight total pressures. Suamataia is a formidable presence, capable of moving to the second level and effectively engaging with linebackers in the run game.

Kingsley Suamataia Would Have Chance to Supplant Rasheed Walker on Packers O-Line

If the Green Bay Packers decide to part ways with Bakhtiari, Suamataia could find himself in a position to make an immediate impact. While Walker performed adequately on the NFL’s youngest offense, the emergence of quarterback Jordan Love suggests a bright future for the team. However, Walker’s hold on the crucial left tackle position has become more uncertain given his performance.

Walker allowed six sacks in 851 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, and was responsible for nine penalties in the 2023 season. PFF ranked him as the 44th best tackle out of 83 players who played enough snaps to qualify. While Walker’s success should secure him a spot in the Packers’ rotation, and possibly a starting role elsewhere on the line, it is expected that Green Bay will look to upgrade the position if Bakhtiari doesn’t return in 2024.

In Kiper’s draft scenario, Suamataia would be the sixth offensive tackle selected in the first 25 picks of the 2024 NFL draft.

Packers Can Save $21 Million by Cutting, Trading David Bakhtiari in Offseason

While Bakhtiari has had an outstanding career with the Packers, the financial savings that Green Bay stands to gain is too substantial to justify retaining him. Even if Bakhtiari had been in good health over the past couple of seasons, the financial aspect might still have led to this decision. Unfortunately, Bakhtiari’s availability has been limited, with just one game played in 2023, one regular-season contest in the previous two years, and 11 games in 2022.

Entering the final season of a four-year, $92 million contract, Bakhtiari carries a significant salary cap hit of nearly $40 million in 2024. Green Bay has the opportunity to create $21 million in cap space by cutting or trading Bakhtiari at any point during the offseason.