Packers: David Bakhtiari set for another strong season in 2018
Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari is set for another excellent season.
The Packers are lucky to have David Bakhtiari. Take away Aaron Rodgers, and he might be the most important player on the entire roster.
Bakhtiari plays a premier position, and is arguably the best at it in the NFL. Despite that, he remains underrated. And we’re talking about a player that was a Pro Bowler in 2016, and has been named a second-team All-Pro the past two seasons.
That said, Pro Football Focus has recognized just how talented a player he is.
Bakhtiari was the number one graded tackle by PFF last season, and made PFF’s list of the top 101 players from the 2017 season, coming in at No. 30 in the rankings:
"“He may have only played in 12 games due to injury, but David Bakhtiari was the best pass-blocking tackle in the game and one of the best pass blockers in all of football, period. Bakhtiari allowed just 12 total pressures over those 12 games, five of which came in one tough outing against Everson Griffen and the Minnesota Vikings’ defense. “"
It’s well deserved praise for Bakhtiari, who has been a key player in the Packers’ offense for a number of years.
When they are both healthy, there might not be a better tackle pairing than Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. Both tackles are capable of playing on islands and shutting down some of the league’s premier pass rushers.
Bulaga is very good, but Bakhtiari has been playing at an elite level.
Of course, the Packers can’t afford to lose Rodgers to injury. We saw last year the result of that. But second on the list would probably be Bakhtiari. His work often goes unnoticed to the casual fan, but he has been a major part of the offense’s success.
Rodgers is a master of extending plays and avoiding sacks, but he’s also helped by the protection up front. Bakhtiari is a big reason why.
Bakhtiari missed four games due to injury last season, and the Packers will be hoping he can play all 16 this year.
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A fourth-round pick in 2013, Bakhtiari is just 26 years old and one of the best tackles in football. If he can avoid injury, he’s set for another great season in Green Bay.