The Green Bay Packers made an expensive splash in free agency on opening day, luring San Francisco guard Aaron Banks to Wisconsin for a contract totaling up to $77 million. The 27-year-old was one of the top interior offensive linemen in this year’s free agent class, giving the Packers a high-level starter in the offensive trenches, at least on paper. However, experts seem to think that Green Bay may have overdone it with the signing.
Offensive Guard Aaron Banks is Heading to Green Bay
Aaron Banks will be a strong addition for the Green Bay Packers offensive line, likely kicking the Pro-Bowl caliber Elgton Jenkins inside to become the new center. That being said, Banks is becoming one of the highest-paid guards in football, with an average annual salary that ranks 7th in the NFL at his position. To live up to this high number, Banks will need to deliver stellar play over the course of his four-year deal.
Some experts are not necessarily expecting Banks to live up to this. Many websites are grading the Banks deal with lukewarm measurements, showing a fair amount of concern over the large contract.
Grades for the Aaron Banks Signing From ESPN, CBS, NYT, and More
The New York Times gave the move a C+, having this to say about Aaron Banks arriving in Green Bay:
He has talent, but durability and consistency has proven challenging for Banks, who seemed to regress in 2024. The Packers are giving the 2021 second-round pick a shot, however, hoping that Banks can help shore up the line that protects Jordan Love and opens lanes for Josh Jacobs.
While it is true that Banks has had some up-and-down seasons, his last season in San Francisco was one of his better campaigns. Banks allowed just one sack last year in over 1,000 pass protection snaps.
ESPN was slightly more negative and rated the Banks signing as a C-
Listen, I’m the first to tell you that offensive line is important. But this is high-end money for a player who hasn’t proved to be that yet. Banks is coming off his best season by our numbers, but even with that context, his pass block win rate (92%) ranked 38th out of 64 guards and his run block win rate (69%) ranked 46th
The article compares Banks to the Chicago Bears newest guard, Jonah Jackson, who signed a massive deal with the Los Angeles Rams worth $51 million over 3 years on the back of impressive play with the Detroit Lions. Jackson was dealt by Los Angeles to Chicago earlier this month. Many see the contract as excessive in hindsight, and if Banks does not continually play at a high level, this contract will be seen in a similar way.
CBS did not have much to say other than giving the move a B-, while sportingnews.com gave the highest rating of the bunch, saying that Banks plugs a hole up front in the run game while rating the move as a B.
It is easy for fans to be excited by their team spending big money in free agency, but the reality is, a good amount of the flashy signings from this offseason will become cap casualties in a matter of years if they do not perform to the figure that the team expects them to. If Banks becomes an average or below-average starter, the Packers will not be keen to keep paying him like one of the best guards in football. Banks certainly has a lot to live up to in Green Bay.
