Evaluating the Packers tackle position: David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga
By Josh McPeak
Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers will have a huge decision to make in the off-season regarding the future of Bryan Bulaga.
The five-year 12.21 million deal he signed in July 2010 will expire in the off-season, making him a free agent.
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It was once thought that Bulaga would be the every day body at left tackle for the Packers. Even coming off of a torn ACL that led to Bulaga missing the entire 2013 NFL season, many thought he would replace David Bakhtiari at the left tackle position.
Bakhtari started all 16 games for the Packers as a rookie in 2013. When he announced he was leaving the University of Colorado as a red-shirt junior, it came as quiet a surprise to many. Even though he managed to make the second-team all-Pac 12 as the left tackle, the Buffalos were a terrible team, finishing 1-11.
In 17 starts during his rookie campaign PFF has Bakhtiari responsible for 10 sacks, 28 quarterback hurries, 5 quarterback hits and 13 penalties. The 2013 NFL campaign was plagued by injuries for the Packers and the durable Bakhtiari took advantage of the situation.
David Bakhtiari would again start all 16 games as the Packers’ left tackle during the 2014 season. His season would be vastly improved on an offensive line that only allowed Aaron Rodgers to be sacked 28 times. He would improve in every category, allowing only 6 sacks, 5 quarterback hits, 18 quarterback hurries and only 9 penalties.
Dec 21, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers tackle David Bakhtiari (69) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Bakhtiari played in 95.8 percent of the offensive snaps on the season – 623 of those snaps were spent solely pass blocking for a an All-Pro quarterback who threw for 4,381 yard, 38 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions – a season good enough to land Bakhtiari as an alternate on the NFC Pro Bowl roster.
Bryan Bulaga would also play in all 16 games during the 2014 season. Bulaga, who was the Packers’ first round pick in the 2010 draft, has only played in 52 of his eligible 80 games as a pro. He turned in by far his best season wearing the green and gold this year.
Oct 26, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Green Bay Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga (75) celebrates with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) following a touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Bulaga was credited with giving up 4 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, 20 quarterback hurries and only 5 penalties. He was just shy of Bakhtiari’s 95.8 percent of offensive snaps, participating in 94.7 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. 544 of those snaps were spent pass blocking.
Coming from the University of Iowa Bulaga was definitely the more appealing pick between the two tackles. Iowa is known for churning out top offensive lineman that require little break-in time for an NFL scheme. Bulaga is also a bigger frame than Bakhtiari with a larger wingspan. Bulaga tips the scale at 6-5 and nearly 315 pounds, while Bakhtiari is a shade shorter at 6-4 and only 300 pounds.
One of the huge knocks against Bakhtiari entering his draft was that he was not an ideal build for an NFL offensive tackle. Bulaga fit the frame better, but was knocked for his athleticism. Scouts knocked his hand speed when going up against speed rushers and claimed he did not have the footwork to play the tackle position.
These two players combined to be the Twin Towers for which the Packers have been searching. Bakhtiari, however, may have put to bed any speculation that the two would swap positions with his play this season.
Ted Thompson has many difficult decisions awaiting in the offseason. Number one should obviously be to lock down Randall Cobb for a long time.
Locking down Bulaga shouldn’t be far down that list, however.
One hates to lean on an injury-prone career to get a player at a discount rate, but in this case you would hope Bulaga would be willing to stay a Packer for less than his original $12.21 million deal.