The Green Bay Packers have made a major decision regarding their offensive line, releasing left tackle David Bakhtiari. This news comes from Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who reported that Bakhtiari announced the end of his 11-year tenure with the Packers on Monday.

Bakhtiari, a five-time All-Pro player, has been battling knee issues for the past three seasons. Despite his incredible talent and being widely regarded as the best at his position for over six years, one devastating injury has plagued him. During this time, Bakhtiari was only able to participate in 13 games; in the 2023 season, he played only in the season opener.

Releasing Bakhtiari will have financial implications for the Packers. In 2024, he was set to count a substantial $40,018,311 against the team's salary cap. By parting ways with him, the Packers will save a significant $20,935,294 in cap space. However, they will still have to allocate $19,083,017 as dead money on the cap for Bakhtiari's departure. This means that even though he is likely to play for another team, the Packers will have to account for over $19 million of his salary on their books this season.

The freed-up cap space will allow the Packers' general manager, Brian Gutekunst, to be aggressive in pursuing new signings during the upcoming free agency period. With two starting-caliber offensive tackles already on the roster, the team can now focus on addressing needs in safety, linebacker, and running back positions.

Bakhtiari, originally selected by the Packers in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, enjoyed tremendous success with the team from 2016 to 2020. He was honored with three second-team All-Pro selections and two first-team All-Pro selections during this period.

According to Silverstein, Bakhtiari has expressed his desire to continue playing and will now have the opportunity to find a new team immediately. Having proven his worth as an elite left tackle, there is likely to be significant interest from teams looking to bolster their offensive lines.

This move marks the end of an era for the Packers, as they bid farewell to one of their most talented and respected players. It also signals a fresh start and a chance for Bakhtiari to embark on a new chapter in his career. As the legal tampering period opened on Monday and free agency officially begins on Wednesday, it will be interesting to see which team will capitalize on the opportunity to secure Bakhtiari's services.