Barring an injury, the Green Bay Packers are getting ready to open training camp, so they won’t likely sign anybody else.
This summer, they signed Greg Joseph, Andre Dillard, Xavier McKinney, Josh Jacobs, and more. A number of players were also allowed to walk, including Yosh Nijman, Darnell Savage, and Jonathan Owens.
After everything was said and done, let’s take a look at three former Packers who are still unsigned.
3. Rudy Ford, Security
Throughout his seven-year NFL career, Rudy Ford—who the Arizona Cardinals selected in the sixth round in 2017—has been traded about. He played in 30 games and started 15 during his two seasons with the Packers.
In Week 10 of the 2022 season, Ford led the Packers to a 31-28 comeback victory over the Dallas Cowboys with 115 tackles, nine pass defenses, and five interceptions. Ford won that game by picking off Dak Prescott twice.
The Packers were prepared to take a different approach with their safeties this offseason. Neither Jonathan Owens nor Darnell Savage were re-signed. Rather than that, they passed on Xavier McKinney in favor of Javon Bullard, who was chosen in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
It makes sense that Green Bay decided against bringing him back given their defensive woes and recent coordinator change. The unexpected thing is how little consideration Ford has gotten in free agency. Though he hasn’t yet been signed, his play over the last few years has been good enough to think someone will sign him.
Wide Receiver Randall Cobb
Although Randall Cobb did not play for the Packers in 2023, he will always be remembered as a part of the Green Bay franchise.
Cobb, a 2011 second-round selection out of Kentucky, won over the Packers’ supporters with his workman’s mentality. His willingness to play a variety of positions, including receiver, returner, and even Wildcat quarterback, helped him gain popularity with the team. With that same mindset, he made a name for himself in the NFL.
After gaining Aaron Rodgers’ trust, Cobb amassed 532 receptions for 6,316 yards and 47 touchdowns in ten years. In addition, he ran for 353 yards, returned punts for 869 yards and a touchdown, and returned kickoffs for 1,915 yards and another touchdown.
After departing in 2019, he joined the Dallas Cowboys and produced 828 yards and three touchdowns. When he returned to the open market in 2020, Rodgers made it apparent that he was dissatisfied with the Packers for letting him go, but they still failed to win him back. He sighed with the Houston Texans this time, but he returned for the 2021 and 2022 campaigns.
Cobb tried to get back together with his friend by playing for the New York Jets in 2023. The wide receiver was an afterthought because Rodgers was hurt after just four plays, recording just five grabs for 39 yards and a touchdown. He could be done in the NFL, but Rodgers might be able to bring him back to New York for a single season.
Tackle, David Bakhtiari, left
David Bakhtiari, a 2013 fourth-round selection out of Colorado, gained the starting left tackle position for the Packers quite fast. After Bryan Bulago tore his ACL in his first season, he started 16 games and never looked back. They shifted Bulaga to the right side upon his return, which allowed Bakhtiari to keep honing his blindside defense skills.
In 2016, Bakhtiari signed a four-year, $48 million contract, earning his first significant extension. That contract featured a $16.7 million guarantee, which is nothing for a left tackle of his ability in the modern game, just to illustrate how rapidly things change.
He kept up his good work, and in 2020 the Packers signed him to a fourth, four-year contract worth $105 million, more than doubling his salary. Bakhtiari became the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman as a result. Regretfully, this is also when he started to experience problems with his injuries.
After tearing his ACL on New Year’s Eve, Bakhtiari ended the season on the injured reserve. Still striving to get his knee straight, he began the following season on the PUP. Bakhtiari was eventually made active, but it wasn’t until Week 16; before his season ended once more, he only played 20 plays.
He participated in 11 games in 2022 but only one in 2023, which resulted in his offseason release. Although Bakhtiari claims he’s ready to go back and wants to play for a few more years, the Packers have moved on. There are clubs that may benefit from his services, but they may decide to hold off until training camp.
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