The Cowboys should sign the injury-prone former $105 million Pro Bowl player.
An attractive landing location for this former $105 million Pro Bowl player would be the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys ought to take into consideration signing former Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari, as recommended by Reid Hanson of USA Today Cowboys Wire. Hanson makes the straightforward claim that they are inexperienced at left tackle. The expected starting left tackle is rookie first-round selection Tyler Guyton, who will take over for eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith, who inked an offseason deal with the New York Jets.
Hanson also notes that it wouldn’t be the “ideal solution” to move third-year guard Tyler Smith from left guard to left tackle in the event that Guyton struggles in his first season as a starter. This is where signing Bakhtiari becomes relevant.
Hanson states, “Moving Smith from guard to LT isn’t an ideal solution if Guyton struggles.” Furthermore, it’s hard to say whether Richards or Waletzko would be a better option than a struggling Steele. It would be much more reassuring to have a veteran like Bakhtiari available in relief.” When well, David Bakhtiari continues to be an elite tackle.
Prior to having his performance limited by injuries, Bakhtiari, 32, was among the top tackles in the National Football League. The two games he participated in total throughout the 2021 and 2023 seasons are the only ones the five-time All-Pro selection has appeared in during the last three seasons.
Hanson adds, “Bakhtiari has undergone surgery after surgery in an effort to regain his once-elite status. A terrible knee injury late in 2020 ended all of that.” “In his three seasons as a player, he has excelled. He has only played 13 games, which is the issue.
Pro Football Focus reports that Bakhtiari finished the 2022 season with a 79.8 offensive grade and tackle 87.8 pass-blocking grade, placing him 12th among all players at his position in terms of offensive grade and fifth in terms of pass-blocking grade. Bakhtiari played in 12 games in 2020 and finished with a 91.8 offensive and 91.6 pass-blocking grade. Throughout the 2020 season, his pass-blocking grade led all tackles and his offensive grade ranked second.
Reasons the Cowboys Would Gain by Signing David Bakhtiari Put another way, Bakhtiari is still one of the top tackles in the game when healthy, despite his recent history of injuries and advanced age. It also doesn’t hurt that he spent his whole 11-year career in Green Bay blocking for four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Such kind of knowledge would undoubtedly be extremely beneficial in blocking Dak Prescott, the 2023 MVP runner-up.
Asim Richards and Matt Waletzko are the main backups at left tackle, which highlights the lack of depth at the position, according to Hanson. Richards and Waletzko have no combined starts between them.
Hanson writes, “On paper, the Cowboys don’t need to add another tackle to their depth chart.” They re-signed Terence Steele in the hopes that he will find his form at right tackle, and they invested in rookie Tyler Guyton in the hopes that he can win the left tackle post on opening day. At LT, Tyler Smith is the emergency option; at RT, it might be Asim Richards or Matt Waletzko. The Cowboys do have options, but they aren’t very good ones.
Although it is unlikely that the Cowboys will sign a guy like Bakhtiari prior to training camp, Guyton’s play at left tackle may cause Dallas to sign the former blindside tackle for the Packers in the event of an injury or other problem.