The Green Bay Packers may face significant legal challenges if they decide to part ways with All-Pro player David Bakhtiari, as reported by Packers’ cap analyst Ken Ingalls. According to Ingalls, if the Packers release Bakhtiari before he passes a physical examination, it could trigger Injury Protection, with a minimum cap impact of $1.230 million in 2024.
Ingalls further explained that Bakhtiari could file an Injury Grievance for his 2024 salary of $21.5 million. In this scenario, the Packers would immediately bear a 40% hit of $8.6 million on their 2024 cap, with the remaining balance settled later. This legal process could extend over several years if the grievance is not promptly dismissed.
The potential legal issue stems from the claim that if the Packers cut Bakhtiari, he might argue that it resulted from the team’s error, potentially making a case due to the prolonged duration of his injury. The Packers would then be required to hold 40% of the claimed amount on their cap until the matter is resolved.
Bakhtiari, a former All-Pro left tackle, has faced challenges over the past two years, with a cartilage issue in his surgically repaired left knee requiring a fifth operation. This season, Bakhtiari will be absent for the remainder of the NFL season. Despite a 2024 cap hit exceeding $40 million, the dead cap hit, excluding an injury grievance, is $19 million. It’s noted that even without the injury, Bakhtiari’s tenure with the Packers beyond this season would have been unlikely.