Packers ‘Dream Trade Scenario’ Replaces David Bakhtiari With Young Star
The Green Bay Packers have almost no choice but to part ways with David Bakhtiari this offseason, though the franchise should have multiple options in its attempt to replace him.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report on Tuesday, February 20, authored a “dream trade scenario” for Green Bay that involves moving up in April’s NFL draft and selecting an elite-level prospect to replace Bakhtiari in the offensive line’s most important slot.If the Packers ultimately choose to move on from Bakhtiari, trading up for a top tackle
prospect like Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu would make a ton of sense. Of course, moving up from 25th overall to do it won’t be easy. Alt and Fashanu are the fifth- and sixth-ranked prospects on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department’s draft board, respectively.If there is an early run on quarterbacks, though, Alt and/or Fashanu could fall out of the top 10. It would still leave Green Bay in need of a huge jump, but a trade might be manageable. … This would still be an expensive trade, but Alt and Fashanu are elite tackle prospects who could solidify Green Bay’s left tackle spot for the next decade or more.
Trading Up for Alt or Fashanu Will Cost Packers Major Assets
In his initial 2024 mock draft, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN projected Alt to come off the board at No. 7 to the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets to select Fashanu with the 10th overall pick. Meanwhile, the Packers don’t select until No. 25, which complicates matters when it comes to moving up.
Kiper agrees that the Packers will target an offensive tackle in the first round. However, his mock has Green Bay selecting Kingsley Suamataia out of BYU as the sixth tackle drafted.
“This is a talented tackle class, and so if Green Bay has a chance to get its blindside protector of the future, it should take it,” Kiper wrote. “The 6-foot-6 Suamataia started 23 games for the Cougars over the past two seasons, 12 at right tackle and 11 at left tackle. I love the potential he showed this past season when he gave up three sacks and only eight total pressures.”
However, in Knox’s “dream scenario,” the Packers find a way to deal up into the top 10 — or just outside of it — and land Alt or Fashanu. One pitch he proposed involved dealing Bakhtiari to the Jets as part of a larger and “expensive” package, which could appeal to quarterback Aaron Rodgers who officiated Bakhtiari’s wedding and has a long personal and professional relationship with the offensive lineman.
If the Jets don’t bite at the chance to exact some revenge for Green Bay getting the better of them in the Rodgers deal, the Packers are looking at surrendering multiple draft assets along with the 25th pick to get into range of Alt or Fashanu.
