Injuries have held offensive lineman David Bakhtiari back from making the impact he once did with the Green Bay Packers. However, as the 2024 season rolls around, Bakhtiari is simply looking for an opportunity.
Working his way back from a long-term knee injury, the offensive lineman says he has been pleased with his recovery. As he looks for his next NFL franchise, Bakhtiari has one key quality he is looking out for, via ESPN's Adam Schefter.
“I want to play with the next Super Bowl MVP. Wherever the hell that's gonna be, I better be there with him. I just want to play with the next Super Bowl MVP, that's it.”
Bakhtiari's optimism towards his injury recovery has the offensive lineman intent on playing multiple seasons, rather than a one-year retirement party. Still, it's unlikely Bakhtiari would get a multi-year offer during the 2024 offseason.
Since suffering his gruesome knee injury during the 2020 season, the offensive lineman has appeared in just 13 total games. Eleven of those came during the 2022 campaign. With so much injury risk, a team would be taking quite the gamble to agree to anything long-term.
However, if David Bakhtiari truly is on the mend health wise, he should garner some looks across the league. The New York Jets – with fellow former Packer Aaron Rodgers – make for an obvious landing spot. But teams across the league are always desperate for offensive line help. At this stage of the offseason, they could do worse than adding Bakhtiari.
But as it has been for his recent career, everything will come down to health. Optimism and Super Bowl dreams are one thing. Actually blocking for the quarterback is another. Regardless, Bakhtiari still believes he has some gas left in the tank – and in his knee – and wants to make a grandiose return to the gridiron.
What David Bakhtiari offers an NFL contender
To play with the next Super Bowl MVP means Bakhtiari would need to sign on with a contender. Playing for a team with such high expectations, the offensive lineman must prove he is up for the task.
From 2013-2020, Bakhtiari certainly was as he started 118 games for the Packers. His play eventually made him the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history at the time; a month before he suffered the devastating ACL tear. Overall, Bakhtiari earned three Pro Bowl nominations and was selected All-Pro twice during his time in Green Bay.
After 11 years, David Bakhtiari is now ready to embark on the next phase of his career. How he responds to his crucial knee rehabilitation will be just as important if not moreso than the team he signs with. If Bakhtiari's knee can't hold up, it's fair to wonder if his NFL career will end.
However, the offensive lineman is confident that it won't. He is optimistic in his return and believes his knee has healed nicely. While he might not be the player he was in his early Packer days, Bakhtiari believes he can still be a contributor. He's hopeful that contribution helps lead his future team to Super Bowl glory.
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