Green Bay Packers David Bakhtiari ranked best NFL run blocker
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari is ranked as the best-run blocker in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season by Pro Football Focus. After an inconsistent 2019 season, Bakhtiari responded in 2020 with a career year.
PFF on Green Bay Packers lineman David Bakhtiari
“He posted a 91.8 PFF grade last season, marking the third time in the past four years where he ranked second among offensive tackles in PFF grade,” wrote Anthony Treash of PFF. “Bakhtiari’s run blocking was far better than anything he previously showed, as he shattered his career-high grade in that facet by 17 grading points (86.7)”
David Bakhtiari tends to have a target on his back because of his quarterback. Aaron Rodgers has the tendency to hold onto the ball longer than the average quarterback in the NFL. Still, Bakhtiari is able to protect him with a grading of 91.6 according to PFF. He has his fifth straight top-five finish in the pass protection metric. In fact, he leads all tackles in true pass set grades by more than eight different metrics.
“Bakhtiari has been the gold standard at pass blocking in the NFL since Joe Thomas departed into retirement. Making this achievement more impressive is the fact that the Packers stalwart has had to block for Aaron Rodgers — a player who holds onto the ball on average longer than most — for his entire career, yet he’s consistently graded among the game’s best, wrote Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson.
“The veteran tackle once again led the NFL in pass-blocking grade (91.6) last season, and he allowed just nine total pressures on 446 pass-blocking snaps in an injury-shortened year. There are other great pass-blockers out there, but Bakhtiari remains the standard to beat.”
David Bakhtiari’s Achievements
Bakhtiari remains among the golden standard for offensive linemen around the league, as evidenced by PFF. He’s started in 118 games in his career. He’s earned a trip to three pro-bowls and is a three-time all-pro. Bakhtiari earned his all-pro selections in three times consecutive seasons, making the first team in each.
“My goal is to be a dependable left tackle, a franchise left tackle, and the Green Bay Packers will feel comfortable knowing I can sufficiently do my job, and know they can count on me,” Bakhtiari told Packers.com in 2013 when asked what his goals for the organization are.
David Bakhtiari is the closest offensive lineman in the game to the retired Joe Thomas. That is high praise and ideal company to keep. The proof is in the metrics, his production leaves no reason to doubt his play for the 2021 season.