The defending NFC North champions may have a hole to fill up front. Could the Green Bay Packers add an insurance policy for left tackle David Bakhtiari?
Three seasons all resulting in 13 wins and a division title. Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur had made it look somewhat easy and owns a combined 39-10 regular-season record in three years on the job.
But the team had some issues in 2021. And having three-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari available for only one game was certainly concerning. Could it be a problem this coming season? The story remains somewhat fluid.
"Our plan all along was to hold him from this time of the year and make sure he’s continuing to get stronger and ready to go hopefully for training camp. This is part of our process right now. Matt LaFleur (via Zach Kruse of PackersWire.com)"
Now roughly two weeks later, the head coach had a somewhat different take (via Kruse).
"Time will tell. We fully anticipate him being ready to go, but, you know, we did last year as well. I think time will tell. We feel good about the work he’s put in and where he’s at."
So what if the nine-year pro isn’t ready this summer? Do the Packers have a backup plan? Could general manager Brian Gutekunst opt for a veteran free agent? Here are three suggestions.
Green Bay Packers option no. 3: Riley Reiff (Cincinnati Bengals)
This past season, the 23rd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions played in 12 of the Bengals’ first 13 games and made a dozen starts at right tackle.
But he wound up missing Cincinnati’s final four regular-season outings with an ankle injury and wasn’t available for the club’s four-game postseason run.
Reiff spent the first nine years of his NFL career in the NFC North, first with the Lions (2012-16) and the following four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. That kind of familiarity could be a plus.
Green Bay Packers option no. 2: Duane Brown (Seattle Seahawks)
He’s played and started in 203 regular-season contests with the Houston Texans (133) and Seattle Seahawks (70) since entering the league as a first-round draft choice in 2008.
And in case there is concern regarding his age – he turns 37 years old on August 30 – the five-time Pro Bowl left tackle comes off a solid campaign.
Talented tackle Duane Brown was the 26th pick in the ’08 draft by the aforementioned Texans. After nine-plus seasons with the organization, he was sent to the Pacific Northwest in 2017 and played and started nine games for Pete Carroll’s club that year.
All told, both the Texans and Seahawks made three playoff appearances each with a reliable performer on the roster.
This past year, Brown played and started all 17 games for Carroll’s disappointing club. Via Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the 6’4”, 315-pound performer is the site’s 37th-ranked offensive tackle.
His pass-blocking grade (69.9) and run-blocking mark (69.6) are nearly identical.
But perhaps the most important aspect of adding Brown to the team is his reliability. He managed to start every game for the Seahawks in three of the past four seasons. And that could be very appealing to LaFleur, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the franchise in general.
Green Bay Packers option no. 1: Eric Fisher (Indianapolis Colts)
The last time the NFL draft saw an offensive lineman selected first overall was nearly a decade ago. In 2013, the Kansas City Chiefs made Eric Fisher of Central Michigan.
That was also head coach Andy Reid’s first season with the organization. And it wasn’t really a huge surprise considering the latter’s background when it came to offensive linemen.
Fisher spent eight years in Kansas City and the team was in the postseason all but one of those seasons. He earned a pair of Pro Bowl invitations and was part of a Super Bowl title team in 2019.
He was in the midst of a solid 2020. But he suffered an Achilles injury in the AFC title game and missed Super Bowl LV. The 6’7”, 315-pound performer was released the following offseason but would eventually find a home.
This past year, Fisher would wind up playing and starting 15 games for Frank Reich’s Indianapolis Colts. He’s currently Pro Football Focus’ 46th-ranked offensive tackle and grades out higher as a run blocker (73.3) than a pass protector (61.0).
More importantly, he remains available and could wind up being an important pickup when it’s all said and done.