Green Bay Packers made David Bakhtiari the wealthiest offensive lineman in the entire National Football League’s history.
According to a report from NFL Network, the star offensive tackle agreed to extend his stint with the team by signing a four-year contract worth a whopping $105.5 million. The report also mentioned that the 29-year-old lineman got a $30 million signing bonus. He also has a “practical guarantee” of approximately $62.8 million in his contract.
Bakhtiari’s contract extension is worth more than the $98.75 million deal between Baltimore Ravens and its offensive tackle, Ronnie Stanley, formalized last month. It showed that the league’s demand for offensive linemen is rapidly on the rise.
During the early parts of the offseason, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil got a three-year deal worth $66 million from the Houston Texan. It was probably the driving force that paved the way for Bakhtiari, Stanley, and other offensive tackles to get skyrocketing contracts in the league.
Bakhtiari is currently near the end of his last season in the four-year deal he received in 2016. After agreeing with the contract extension, another football star has been taken off the list of 2021 free agents.
The San Mateo, California-born offensive tackle is considered one of the Packers’ team’s most valuable members, alongside star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams. He was able to receive the second Pro Bowl selection of his career last season.
Bakhtiari had a remarkable high school and college football career before joining the pros. He played for the Junipero Serra High School, the same school where NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann and six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady originated. He chose to play for the University of Colorado while studying Communications for his college degree. But during his senior year with the Colorado Buffaloes, he decided to pass up the chance to play in his final year to join the 2013 NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers chose him to join the team in the fourth round of the draft. He was the 109th overall pick and the ninth offensive tackle selected by the team during the time.
Fortunately for Bakhtiari, his team once again proved that they are one of the best teams in the NFL in 2020. They are currently 7-2 this season after their 24-20 win against Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Because of Bakhtiari’s new contract extension, most core players for Green Bay have long-term deals with the team. Apart from him and Rodgers, important defensive players like Adrian Amos, Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith, and Kenny Clark. The team only needs to convince Adams to extend his contract beyond 2021. They also need to get running back Aaron Jones to stay with the team after his contract ends this season.
As a whole, the Packers had a relatively great Sunday. They were able to secure the longevity of one of the team’s best players during the same time when they toppled over Jacksonville. It allows them to take one step closer to the Super Bowl that will take place in January 2021.
