Green Bay Packers free agency news on Monday includes signing offensive guard Aaron Banks. Keep reading for more contract and player info!
It has been an eventful Monday for NFL Free Agency, with top players signing all over the country. For the most part, the Green Bay Packers have stuck to the annual tradition of sleeping in. However, they did wake up in time to sign what some have called the top free agent guard available.
The Packers have come to terms with offensive guard Aaron Banks. He has signed a four-year, $77 million contract with Green Bay.
Packers Sign $77M Guard Aaron Banks in Free Agency
The Green Bay Packers entered the offseason with questions on their offensive line. Center Josh Myers is almost certainly not back after a bad injury. Then, there are questions about the right guard spot, with Sean Rhyan and rookie Jordan Morgan splitting time there last season.
In their first move to address the offensive line, the Packers sign Aaron Banks. Turning 28 before the start of next season, Banks was a second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is a player Green Bay has liked for some time, and they even hoped he would fall in the round to them. Instead, they grabbed the aforementioned Myers.
After starting his career as a backup in San Francisco, Banks has been the starting left guard for the 49ers, playing next to future Hall-of-Famer Trent Williams. Obviously, that makes life a bit easier.
MORE: Brandon McManus Signs Big Contract With Packers
While Banks has given up just three sacks in his NFL career, the amount of help he has received is a relevant talking point. Yes, Banks is a solid player who is physically built to exceed as an interior offensive lineman. However, in order to make you a more intelligent football fan, especially when talking about the offensive line, we would like for you to recognize that the amount of pass-offs and tag blocks Aaron Banks received in San Francisco has vaulted him to this big payday with the Green Bay Packers.
You can see below how Banks is more than capable of winning blocks on his own, however. Here, he wins a snap against Grady Jarrett who recently signed with the Chicago Bears. Apologies for the link. Thank Elon for his site getting hacked and not being able to show the Tweet itself.
https://twitter.com/splash_cousin/status/1582133502459322372
What Does Signing Aaron Banks Mean For Packers’ Offensive Line?
So, the Green Bay Packers did not have an offensive guard from last season leave. In fact, Green Bay had three guards play regularly and all of them are back. What does the signing of Banks mean for the Packers’ offensive line?
We know Green Bay values positional versatility oftentimes more than skill at one position. As an offensive line coach who is very much connected with this Green Bay position room, I have not been shy about my frustration regarding this philosophy, especially here on Let’s Go Wisconsin and on the show Lombardi Sweep. However, it does now work in the Packers’ favor, in terms of this move of signing Aaron Banks in free agency.
The Packers want to put the five best players on the field, as they have said many times over the years. Of course, the rotation at right guard the past two years goes fully against this, but I digress. Offensive tackles are the two pillars that need to be figured out, and it seems like they have. Rasheed Walker will continue to start on the left while Zach Tom will be the right tackle, though his potential would be maximized elsewhere.
In terms of the interior three, it’s all about chemistry and putting the strongest players in a position to cover up possible issues. There is no doubt that Elgton Jenkins is the Packers’ best offensive lineman. Given the Packers handing $77M to Aaron Banks, who has only been a starting left guard, there is reason to believe he will be slotted here. This shifts Elgton Jenkins to center. Jenkins thrived at center in college and has been asked to play there a bit for Green Bay.
With Jenkins anchoring the offensive line in the middle, he has the ability to slide and help either guard. Right guard remains a mystery. The Packers want to give Morgan that job, but if he doesn’t win it outright, they will continue the timeshare. Jenkins will likely help there more often than not.
Regardless, it is clear the pairing of Aaron Banks and Elgton Jenkins at left guard and center, respectively, makes the most season for the Packers’ offensive line in 2025. It would still be wise to draft a true offensive tackle and possibly a project at center.
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