Yes, Gute traded two HOFers but he really have any choice? Adams wanted out and wouldn't play for the Packers any more. Rodgers was 90% retired. And yet Gute got value for both of them. I thought he did well in tough spots.

I'm not sure trading or cutting Bahk will be much more of a choice for Gute. That $40 million price tag is tough all though half of it will stay with the Packers even if he is cut or traded. And that contract was not Gute's doing. Ball negotiates contracts and Ball reports to Murphy.

I think Gute has made lemonade out of lemons.

Trading Bakh would be a defining factor for Gute? Sorry, I’m
Not buying it. If we can find a suitor it’s going to require Bakh to have been healthy enough to play consistently and a team with a short term need that thinks it’s in contention.

If Bakh isn’t healthy then Ball has it structured that we can release him after the season and Gute has the guy that got us to the playoffs in his absence to fall back on.

We lost the reasonable gamble that is Bakhs current contract. The best chance of redeeming that to the greatest possible extent is either a trade in season that nets anything mildly significant or of Bakh eking out a pro bowl level season from his knee helping Love get established. Only if he can need we worry about what happens in 2024.

NP, how did Bakh do in 2020 before his injury?

I like the idea of testing our depth behind him on artificial turf; that would keep Dave happy, and the FO office would know what the team is without him. Either way. That's an unknown variable that needs to become known before this situation can be handled correctly.

There's serious depth on this O line. Of course testing it is a risk, but this is the season to do that. Within reason of course.

I’d have no problem trading him now especially if you think they could get a first rounder, that’s a no brainer. I like him but sorry, buy low ok fourth rounder, sell high he’s healthy now, pull the trigger!

Personally, I don’t get the feeling that the Packers are all that confident that he can get through a whole season. This long after an injury that suggests that his knee will remain a question mark at best from now on with an upside of managed availability and a downside of retirement looming. That could be over-caution or it could be the sign of a swan song.

Nijman was grading very well on the left and struggled to translate the technique at RT. It may be that they think Tom can be up to speed faster at RT and know what Nijman is and are comfortable on the left. They clearly think there’s a significant chance that someone other than Bakh is likely to have to play LT either as a starter or coming in during games. It’s also possible it’s a strategy to allow them to accept a trade for Bakh if a good enough offer comes.

Steve, this is something I think about too. 10 O linemen usually dress on game day, right? Wouldn't each be more effective if they got to focus on one position? Everybody has a backup. With spares on the PS.

I get versatility, but there's such a thing as handicapping your own players. I mean, would Bakh be as good a LT if he had to practice all 5 positions?

"I think one of the biggest keys to this years offense is the OL."

I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but it ALL starts with the line. You gave all the examples from last season (thanks) that emphasize that point.

The O line might have had more to do with the 8-9 record than the D, ST or a broken thumb IMO. It wasn't anyone in particular on the line either. The coaching seemed incapable of putting or keeping the best 5 practicing and on the field.

RCP, the question is how to make the rest of the O line as dominant as LT & LG. We've got #72 Jones 6'9" 330, 78 Tenuta 6'8" 314, 77 Telfort 6'7" 322, 63 Walker 6'6" 324, 75 Ryan 6'5" 321, and just released 65 Filiaga 6'6" 321.

6 giants not being used. Are they all busts? None of these are better than Newman and Hanson? Myers at C, Runyan at RG and Nijman at RT really complete our best 5?

Preseason games will hopefully help find some answers here. I still don't have a sense of how hard our linemen go during TC after attending two practices.

“When Bakhtiari was on the field he was the best LT in the league last year.”

Was he?

Rankings:
13 PFF
4 Pro Football Network
6 CBS Sports
9 Athlon
- Touchdownwire’s Top 12 OTs did not make list
2 Fanrankings

RC, not trying to point to the contrary. I love Bakhtiari. Just thought it was now important to ask that question.

4 years ago? He was #1, without question.

Now? My first thought is: “Well, where are we playing this week? Sports turf or grass?”

They needed to make a call on Bakh. Bakh had been consistently healthy over his career. They gambled that that would remain so. That was a reasonable roll of the dice. Of course then he gets a serious injury. Such is the risk they accepted.

The contract made sense in terms of the player, his history, the context of trying to win with Rodgers and timing. The gamble didn’t pay off but it was a reasonable one. I’m less sure that retaining him now in current circumstances is as logical, but we now have to see how things play out to see what their plan is and whether it’s vindicated.

Moving Sitton, Lang, and Wahle while playing at their highest level all were surprising moves by Thompson that panned out, each had one more good season and were out of the league shortly afterwards due to injuries. Thompson's draft and develop strategy with sound cap management put them in a playoff consistency category with the Patriots over a 10 year period. And, like Wolf (Reggie White) when required Thompson deviated and made a free agency acquisition that resulted in a championship (Charles Woodson). Yes, more Super Bowl's would have been nice and the opportunities were there but it was not to be.

"He signed Bahk too early."

You and this repeated dumbassery that they should've known he'd get hurt in practice a couple months later.

SH, trading key players away when they're at their peak may be why we've only had 2 Lombardis in 30+ years.

It needs to be determined who can fill Bakh's shoes, if anybody. And what depth we have behind that.

With the contract set up the way it is, this is a "shit or get off the pot" season for the Packers/Bakhtiari.

The Packers will be forced to extend/trade/cut him, and Bakhtiari needs to show he wants to keep playing and can get back to form, or he will need to retire. Whatever the case, the Packers will manage his practice reps and get him plenty of veteran rest--this is normal for established vets in this day of managed practice time. People read too much into it.

Clifton like Bulaga never got the props they deserved, both lined up for 10 straight seasons and performed at a high level game in and game out, talk about hitting on draft picks they are the prime examples.

...backed yet further by Caleb Jones...

This ^^^...both LF and G&G are highlighting the status of the 2nd most important position in the NFL, IMO

Except if Nijman has trouble switching from RT to LT that messes it all up. This might be a reason to play Tom at RT and have Nijman sit unless he's filling in for Bakh?

And then is Nijman better than Mt Caleb at LT?

I think you're right, but a lot of things are going to happen over the next couple of months. It's in everybody's best interests if Bakhtiari is healthy and in the lineup in December. The better he plays, the better the trade value.

Or, he could get hurt again. It could happen.

His highest trade value will be this year, from now until probably Week 4-5. That is when most season ending injuries occur in the NFL.

Next year? Who is going to want to pay that amount for a 33 year old LT? The real value to other NFL teams is NOW, because it will cost teams next to nothing in cap charges to have his services for the 2023 season (less than $1.2M).

Entertaining the thought of trading him next year is a gamble in itself.

I agree with you, Handsback! The Packers do seem to have plenty of talented players ready to step up at LT, and I think after all of this discussion, it's looking more and more like he will get moved soon. I don't like it. I'm not happy about it. But, trading him this year makes way more sense for the Packers.

The young team gets younger?

6-9 370 Caleb Jones is a destroyer at LT. So is 6-7 322 Kadeem Telfort. Both are huge. Neither is perfect, nor is Bakhtiari right now. Yosh Nijman is only 27 years old, and a top talent at both LT & RT.

If they don't refi Bhak, they best use the one picks on OTs.

This is something the organization can't afford to guess about. Someone who can fill his shoes without taking a step back is important. 2 or 3 somebody's would be better.

CONGRATS, TGR!!! I wish I could have made it up. Won't be able to for a week or two. ENJOY, my friend!!! Maybe see you towards the end of open practice sessions. 6 more of them after Thursday.

OHHHH MANNNNN! I'm SO jealous..!!! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the team. Cheers!

I'm sure you'll be watching everything but, try to see what they're doing on STs. Don't like the sound of punts getting blocked (again). Heard they're going to work the field goal unit today.

LP, this is what I'm thinking too. Simultaneously, it's imperative to find out if anyone can fill Bakh's shoes, and that requires regular season play. I'm thinking the best way to do that is on artificial turf which he strongly objects to playing on. That's 5 games, with the first in week 2.

This would be a reason to reduce his pay next year, but he could stay home and get paid $20MM. Reducing his pay to $15MM? Maybe. 10, probably not.

Yes, I'm glad that he returned to optimism

" . . . Vikes got rid of a pro bowler who costs too much. Packesrs never get it."
NEVER? - what about 12? What about 17?
That's just the last two offseasons.
They don't always get it right from a timing standpoint, but they constantly weigh value to us as a player against value to us as trade bait, IMO.
GPG!