5 Packers players who could follow Aaron Rodgers out the door
All the signs point to Aaron Rodgers leaving the Packers in one shape or form this offseason, but which Packers players could follow him out of Green Bay?
From quite literally the last time we saw Aaron Rodgers on a football field, there has been speculation that he’s done with the Green Bay Packers. His walk off of Lambeau Field after a Sunday Night Football loss to the Lions eliminated his team from the playoffs alongside longtime receiver Randall Cobb seemed like a farewell of sorts.
Whether it’s retirement or asking for a trade, that speculation has only continued. In fact, it’s actually becoming more apparent when you read the tea leaves — or the comments from Green Bay’s front office and Rodgers — that this is the end of an era and the quarterback will be gone after this season.
That would put the Packers in a tough spot. Though the team would likely restructure Rodgers’ deal if he were traded, they are still currently $16.4 million over the salary cap. More importantly, losing Aaron Rodgers would likely begin a rebuilding process. As such, the quarterback might not be the only player who’s out in Green Bay going into the 2023 season.
Table of Contents
- Page 1: Introduction + Does he keep playing if Rodgers leaves?
- Page 2: He’s definitely not a priority if Rodgers is gone
- Page 3: The same is true of this guy as well
- Page 4: An upgrade for the future would make sense at this position
- Page 5: A potential trade or cut candidate if Rodgers is out
Packers rumors: 5 players who could follow Aaron Rodgers out the door
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT. David Bakhtiari. Green Bay Packers. 5. 49
If Aaron Rodgers leaves the Packers, David Bakhtiari could opt to retire
When healthy and on the field for Green Bay, David Bakhtiari has been one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles. He was a First-Team All-Pro in both 2018 and 2020 and a three-time Second-Team All-Pro in 2016, 2017 and 2019. Put as simply as possible, the former fourth-round pick out of Colorado has been the goods.
Over the past couple of seasons, though, we’ve started to see injuries pile up for the stalwart tackle who will turn 32 years old in September of this year. He tore his ACL and had a long recovery, which is for sure the most notable and lengthy injury and recovery he’s dealt with, but there have been other times when he’s been held out of action as well.
If Rodgers leaves the Packers, is an offensive tackle whose body is already starting to betray him a bit going to stick around for any sort of rebuild? While we’re not in Bakhtiari’s head, that doesn’t sound like a promising proposition for him.
Because of that, you have to consider the possibility that Rodgers leaving Green Bay would also mean the end of Bakhtiari with the Packers and, perhaps, in the NFL as well. It would be sad to see him go, but it would also be difficult to blame him for that decision given the circumstances.