Injury settlement!
Do whats best for Bahk.
Move on --

This was a really terrific summary of the Bakh situation. Many thanks Andy!.

The Packers currently have about $7.35 million in cap space, but will need about $15+ million to pay for the incoming draft class along with the 52nd and 53rd players on the roster and likely another $5 million for cap space during the year (in case of injury replacements). That leaves the Packers about $13 million short of cap space for 2024.

Releasing Bakh will generate just under $20 million of cap savings. That would leave the Packers enough cap to sign the incoming draft class and the 52nd and 53rd roster players, with $5 million for in season transactions and approximately $7 million for free agency signings. That actually gives the Packers more flexibility than I thought they would have.

TGR - we need your expertise here as this is just "back of the envelope" musings on my part. Is this close to right?

Bak gave us some great seasons and Pack rewarded him with 148 mill. In my opinion, if he wants to continue playing release him and wish him luck, we need to move on.

Bakh is legend. Would be great, if a solution could be worked out in good terms.

I haven't seen anyone accuse Bahk of sandbagging or anything like that. He is a damn good NFL player, and his body is wearing out. It happens. He has been great when he could play and was paid really well from the Packers. It would be great for GB if he got healthy enough to trade for anything. Maybe the Jets/Rodgers would come through with a late round pick. Rodgers will push for this and the Jets need an OT. They could give a strictly performance based contract on games played. They couldn't get hurt that way. That would be a far cry from his value 2 years ago. At least it would be something and could get us another kicker.

There isn't really a decision here. He has to be cut loose. He was a great player and I would love to have him back at full strength but that just doesn't appear possible. Of course this isn't his fault but this is a zero sum business and the team can't continue to pay this type of salary. If he still wants to play I would wish him the best of luck but it has to be done somewhere else.

I also believe there is no decision but to release or trade him. There are others we can unload as well like Stokes, Campbell, Savage. This should help the cap. Time for new blood on defense and a top o linemen to replace Bahk.

This is why it's a huge risk for a team to offer long and back loaded contracts.

I will never question Bakhtiari's ability, work ethic, or desire to come back from injuries.

But at some point, this is a business and his salary has been extremely detrimental to the Packers for the last 2 years. That situation is only getting worse in 2024 if he stays, cannot play, and play at a high level. It blows my mind that the Packers haven't cut ties before now. Off the top of my head, I can't think of an NFL player who suffered through 2 1/2 years with a knee injury, whom then revitalized their career. Sure, stranger things have happened but the last 2 1/2 years give me no hope that he'll ever return to form.

Also, I would lose all respect for him if he files a grievance. I can't think of another player that the Packers have shown more loyalty. The $140mil+ on this contract is more than enough to cover any future surgeries and comfort.

I love the idea of paying Bakh the injury benefit as his base salary, plus a roster bonus for every FULL game played, with a substantial discount if he plays some but can't play the whole game.

One of the best parts about this is he works with not just Walker at LT, but the entire line. Cannot overstate how much that would have helped the entire offense this season, especially the first half of it.