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Green Bay Packers OL could have played his final snap after $88 million extension
- Story byWI Sports Heroics
- Green Bay Packers OL could have played his final snap after $88 million extension
The Green Bay Packers handed Zach Bako-Bewele a four-year, $88 million extension last year, but the team could already be preparing to move on from the offensive lineman before the deal truly gets underway. According to Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company, Bako Bewele may have already played his final snap in Green Bay .
"There's a real chance GB pays out around $50 million for 12 healthy games of ZBB, which he was already under contract for on his rookie deal, before they eventually pull the plug. The first game check from his extension was Week 1 this year. The out is in 2028," wrote the NFL insider in his article.
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Mosqueda noted that Bako Bewele could face a nine to 12 month recovery period before returning to full health. Even after that stretch, though, the Packers would still have to wait for him to regain his previous level of playing form.
Could this be the end of Zach Bako-Bewele's time with the Packers?
Sep 20, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive line Zach Bako-Bewele (50) lays on the turf with an apparent injury during the first quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
As Ken Ingalls points out , the Packers could have a difficult time escaping Bako Bewele's contract in 2027, regardless of whether he is healthy. That could make it difficult for Green Bay to move on from him, even if he is unable to take the field.
"There is a non-zero percent change the Packers end up releasing Zach Bako-Bewele before the 2027 season begins – if his injury is in fact career threatening – and still have to pay him his $1.75m & $16.8m base salary cash for the 2027 & 2028 seasons through injury protection," Ingalls wrote.
Green Bay Packers offensive linemen Zach Bako-Bewele (50) and Jacob Monk (62) run through a drill during a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.
The 27-year-old has made 53 career starts at right tackle, but only 14 of those have come over the past two seasons. His contract also carries a nearly $24 million cap hit in 2028, giving the Packers a potential path to roughly $12 million in cap savings if they move on from him after the 2027 season.
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Bako-Bewele's recovery is expected to keep him out for all of 2026 , with his return potentially delayed into the 2027 season. The bigger concern is what he will look like once he finally gets back on the field, as there is no guarantee he will regain his previous level. If Green Bay eventually parts ways with him, it would mark a difficult ending to what once looked like a promising career.
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Sep 24, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) looks on during warm up prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
