It is the start of a new era for the Green Bay Packers. A new journey without the name of franchise legend Aaron Rodgers echoing through the stadium. Last month, the 39-year-old MVP finalized his move to the New York Jets after stating his intention to play for the Jets earlier this year. And Rodgers is not the only player to leave the team for New York. Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Malik Taylor are all now a part of the Jets roster, giving Rodgers a sense of familiarity as he sets up base in a new home.
But while Aaron Rodgers preps for his debut Jets appearance, his best friend is still in Green Bay. With the Packers rebuilding after Rodgers’s departure, this player still remains as one of the OG’s in a young Packers locker room. And he recently opened up about the situation of the team, as they prepare for a post-Rodgers era of football.
What’s in the Packers’ future?
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During a recent episode of the Rich Eisen show, Packers OT and Rodgers’s best buddy David Bakhtiari joined the show for an interview. During the episode, Eisen questioned Bakhtiari about what his definition of a rebuild means, as he used the term to describe the present situation in Green Bay. Bakhtiari went on to talk about how “there has been one pinnacle person at the QB position” for years, and how the team is taking cap hits of players who are no longer a part of the Packers. He talked about the current team being young and how he believes in building a new future for the Packers while also keeping the history of the team in mind. Bakhtiari said rebuilding comes in “all different shapes and sizes.”
Talking about the season ahead, he said, “I am not Nostradamus. I can’t tell you exactly how this season’s gonna play out. But right now, we’re undefeated. Just like 31 other teams and the beauty of it is that we have this season to play out and then we can see where we fall.” Bakhitiari also talked about how the “goal is to win”, and that it is the driving factor behind the rebuild of the roster.
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With the Packers breaking up with Aaron Rodgers, is Bakhtiari worried about the team’s future? Is the team struggling financially like how Rodgers allegedly claimed, which is why they are focusing on younger talents?
Packers settling with Jordan Love and a young roster?
Earlier during an interview, A-Rod talked about how the Packers offered Davante Adams less money after agreeing to make him the highest-paid WR prior to his trade. This made the QB feel that the team did not have the “foresight” to ensure such a deal. Now, with both Rodgers and Adams exiting the team, the team will be looking forward to polishing 2020 Draftee Jordan Love to carry on the legacy after Brett Favre and Rodgers. Love has spent a considerable amount of time behind Rodgers in the last three seasons.
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Now, he has this opportunity to prove himself worthy of the QB1 position for the Packers, a moment he has been waiting for. With the team trading the 4x MVP despite signing a three-year $150 million deal last year, they now incur $40 million in dead cap while saving themselves a good amount of salary cap space. Now, with a young roster, it will definitely mean more work for the coaches. And with Jordan Love as their QB, it will be interesting to see how the new season plays out for the Packers nation in the league. Do you think Jordan Love can carry on the QB legacy of the Packers? Let us know in the comments below.