Green Bay Packers Key Player has Sustained a brutal neck injury with legs broken
It is not something the Cleveland Browns can afford to repeat in 2024 after they were forced to play a playoff game last month without their best three offensive tackles.
While Dawand Jones was a surprise in his rookie campaign, he’s still learning. Cleveland clearly needs to address the depth on the outside of its line this offseason but may not have a lot of money to spend due to salary cap concerns. Starting right Jack Conklin is a cut candidate after another season-ending injury. Starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. was among the lowest-performing players at the position in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Hence, taking a cheap shot on a player like Green Bay Packers star David Bakhtiari could be the wisest course of action. Due to knee problems, the five-time All-Pro has only participated in 13 games over the last three seasons, but when he is on the field, he is unmatched. With a $40 million cap hit in 2024—of which $21 million Green Bay can clear by flashing him the ax—he is all but a lock for the cut line.
In the event that the Packers take this action, Bakhtiari will become a free agent and be eligible to sign a deal with any team in the league. His first option would undoubtedly be to rejoin quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the New York Jets, a team that also needs a skilled offensive lineman.
If that doesn’t work out, though, Bakhtiari, who has never participated in a Super Bowl, will get the chance to join a playoff-caliber squad that is eager to win right now with the Browns.
On Monday, February 5, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox included Bakhtiari on a short list of probable cap casualties whose free agency could be advantageous for particular teams. In this way, he connected the Packers tackle to Cleveland.
Jones is expected to take over as Cleveland’s starting right tackle now that Conklin might be leaving. Bakhtiari might replace Wills in the starting lineup entirely if he is healthy because he is the greatest player at the position on either side.
A situation where Wills and Jones compete with each other for the other starting position is one that could occur. It’s a safe bet that if all three players are healthy in 2024, they will each start on one side of the line before the season is out, given their recent injury histories.
Although Bakhtiari’s contract details are unknown, it seems unlikely that he will receive more than one guaranteed year wherever he ends up, at least not until he can demonstrate that he can stay healthy. Because of this, Bakhtairi ought to be a top pick if the Browns are interested in him and can end Rodgers and him as a true brotherhood.
