Foe to Friend? Bears Emerge as Favorites to Land Hall-of-Fame Bound Tackle David Bakhtiari

As we race towards the start of training camp, the Chicago Bears still have question marks across both trenches for the 2024 season. One solution may be coming from an unlikely place though, as recent reports have linked the Bears with former All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari.

Bakhtiari, 32, was released by the Packers after spending his first 11 seasons with the team. Although he has been mired by injury the last few years, when he is able to suit up on Sundays, he's still one of the premier left tackles in the league.

The Bears have the best betting odds at +500 for Bakhtiari, with Baltimore behind them at +800.

It wouldn't be the first time the Bears snatched up a Packers' cast-off and immediately were rewarded dividends for the move. In 2016, the Bears signed Josh Sitton after the Packers released him and was voted to a Pro Bowl in his first season with the team.

Pro Football Focus recently ranked the Bears' offensive line 11th in the league; however, it's been no secret that the team has actively considered upgrades at every position except right tackle.

Braxton Jones, the Bears' incumbent left tackle, has outplayed his draft stock and has been a solid contributor across the line. Of the positions in need of an upgrade, you could argue that his spot at left tackle is lower on the totem pole. That said, if the opportunity arises to sign a player that is Canton-bound, it may not hurt to have Jones learn from Bakhtiari for a season while also giving the Bears valuable depth at the position.

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