Rumor: Packers Want to Upgrade at Left Tackle

This rumor is interesting. The Green Bay Packers want to upgrade at left tackle and move David Bakhtiari inside to guard.

According to Tony Pauline of Draft Insider: Packers starting left tackle David Bakhtiari is in the final year of his contract, and the belief is the team would like to move him inside to guard and upgrade the left tackle spot.

While we’d typically dismiss something like this, it does make plenty of sense.

First, it makes sense because of Bakhtiari’s play. He’s a serviceable left tackle, but not a top-tier guy.

He consistently leads the Packers in penalties and, for whatever reason, just can’t handle a bull rush at all. Now, if Bakhtiari didn’t lead the Packers in penalties — if he committed fewer — then he’d probably lead the team in sacks allowed.

You take out some holding, you give up some more sacks.

Bakhtiari’s value was inflated in 2015 because the Packers didn’t have a capable backup until they finally stumbled upon J.C. Tretter. When Bakhtiari was injured, the play of Don Barclay and Josh Sitton at left tackle only made Bakhtiari look better.

That doesn’t account for his limitations, however.

Second, it’s the contracts.

Not only is Bakhtiari going to be a free agent after the season, so are Tretter and starting guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang. The Packers simply cannot afford to pay three of these guys top dollar in addition to the ransom they’re paying right tackle Bryan Bulaga.

One, maybe two of the Packers’ 2016 starters on the offensive line won’t be around in 2017.

A contingency plan must be made.

That’s why we predicted the Packers would draft an offensive lineman early this year.

Would we be surprised if the Packers surprise everyone else and take an offensive lineman in the first round tonight?

Not at all.

As I told Shawn on the podcast this week, best player, all the way.