(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Under contract (3): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Royce Newman, Luke Tenuta, Kadeem Telfort,
Free agents: Yosh Nijman (unrestricted), Jon Runyan Jr. (unrestricted), Caleb Jones (exclusive rights)
Early thoughts: The Packers may believe they have all five preferred starters along the offensive line under contract for 2024, but with veteran departures expected and likely unavoidable, Brian Gutekunst will need to bolster the position group at several spots. What happens with David Bakhtiari? Is competition needed at left tackle, center and right guard? Who will be the swing tackle? Almost every year, the Packers reinvest resources to ensure the long-term health of the offensive line, and 2024 should be no different.
Ken’s cap perspective
Elgton Jenkins enters as the seventh highest cap hit at $14.4 million with a $5.1 million roster bonus due in March — the Packers may restructure this deal to create $5-6 million or could let this one sit to slow their cap kicking. Josh Myers and Royce Newman both earned proven performance escalators entering the final years of their rookie contracts. The Packers almost certainly move on from Royce Newman to gain $2.8 million of space. Yosh Nijman will be an unrestricted free agent who likely can get a chance elsewhere but will leave behind $2.5 million as dead cap when his contract voids. Jon Runyan Jr. is set to be an unrestricted free agent and was in a rotation with Sean Rhyan at right guard. Runyan wants to stay in Green Bay, but the Packers may choose to go with their younger third-round pick as the full-time starter. Runyan would be a great swing interior lineman if willing to be a backup but could seek starter money elsewhere. Rhyan, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Luke Tenuta are on their cheap rookie contracts and are in good position to compete for three of the starting jobs and a swing tackle role on the line in 2024.
That leaves the ugly David Bakhtiari contract situation. He is set to earn $21.5 million cash in the final year of his contract, but his initial signing bonus and three straight years of cap restructuring have now piled up into 2024 creating a whopping $40 million cap hit — by far the largest on the roster, $12.5 million ahead of second place. Important to note: Bakhtiari has intentionally not allowed the Packers to use void years in his restructures the past three seasons in to have full leverage…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Packers Wire…