The Packers are in line to make a notable addition up front. Green Bay is expected to sign guard Aaron Banks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Providing terms on the arrangement, Rapoport notes the deal will be four years in length, adding it will be worth $77MM. After playing out his rookie pact with the 49ers, Banks was in position to be one of the top OL earners in 2025. He has certainly cashed in with a pact which will see the Packers make another major commitment along the interior.
Banks will earn $63MM over the first three years of the pact, Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds. That confirms the 27-year-old’s status as one of the top blockers on the market this spring. Banks checked in at No. 21 on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent list. Although Banks is going into his age-28 season, he is a former second-round pick who started for three seasons in San Francisco.
Starting 43 games since taking over at the 49ers’ left guard in 2022, Banks was a pivotal part of the O-line the powered Christian McCaffrey to a strong 2022 second half and elevated him to the 2023 rushing title. The Notre Dame alum also was present for Brock Purdy’s stunning rise from Mr. Irrelevant to late-season replacement to the first QB to average at least 9.6 yards per attempt over a full season since 1998.
One of several young guard starters in free agency, Banks’ three-year starter run presented fewer questions compared to some of his 2025 UFA peers. More effective as a run blocker, the 325-pound player did not grade out favorably (per Pro Football Focus) until last season. As just about everything else within the 49ers imploded, Banks ranked as PFF’s No. 33 overall guard. The Packers likely believe he submitted quality work before that point, but this contract illustrates the robust market the four-year vet garnered.
Banks will be set to start opposite Elgton Jenkins in 2025. The high-priced duo complements two rookie-contract tackles, in Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, so it will be interesting to see how a Packers team with Jordan Love on a $55MM-AAV deal proceeds with its tackle money soon. Both Walker and Tom are due for free agency in 2026.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
I thought it was another Aaron at quick glance.
Wow, what a glorious overpay for a mid guard. Love it.
this is rich coming from a Bears fan. You guys just shelled out massive bucks for a center who can’t run block, a guard who is older than the King of England, and another guard who can’t stay healthy for 4 games at a time.
You’re a bears fan and they haven’t had an OL in probably a dozen years. lol. Keep talking son.
I’m a Packers fan. Look at the avatar.
A center who can’t run block?? Lolol he’s one of the best run blockers in the league.
Joe Thuney the 4 time Super Bowl champion and all pro is 32. That’s not that old in terms of modern NFL O linemen. He was phenomenal last year.
Jonah Jackson was also a pro bowler with a ton of upside who will be playing Right Guard which is his best position.
The Packers, meanwhile, had the 38th ranked center and 33rd ranked guard according to PFF last season.
And you just spent $77m on an extremely mid guard (ranked 32nd last season) and a $48m on the 104th ranked corner.
Love it. Keep the Packers cope coming. I’m drinking it in.
I feel like this is when Bears fans are the most vocal because they always have $$$ to spend and hope this season will be better than the last.
It’s hard to argue the Packers front office doesn’t know what they’re doing when they’ve made the playoffs in seven times of the last 10 seasons while the Bears have done so only twice. Only time will tell if these are good or bad signings.
As I remember, lots of people were also critical of the Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs contracts last offseason and both appear to be great signings after the first year. .
BroSchmo on YouTube just graded every team’s day 1 signings. You should go watch it and see who he thinks did great and who did horrible today.
I consider free agent signings and draft grades as someone’s personal opinion. If these guys were amazing at accessing NFL talent they all would be working for NFL teams.
Team culture, schemes and coaching all play a major role in how players perform. Putting players in positions to succeed isn’t factored in enough.
I have confidence the Packers coaching staff will be able to maximize the potential of both Banks and Hobbs.
How bout this?
Bad teams have more cap room. Because they’re bad. Bears fans have “won” the offseason every year for the last five years.
Go ahead and celebrate. It’ll be you in the basement in the division when it matters. Again.
Chicago “fans”:
Cubs are World Series champs and all NL Central teams suk….EVERY February and March.
Bears are Super Bowl champs and all NFC North teams suk….EVERY April and May.
“Overpay”….
How do you know yet, when the GUARANTEED amount hasn’t been announced yet. That’s all that matters. If it’s 40 million, then it’s $10 mil a year and a great signing.
At this point, people will just say “overpay” bc they are casuals and don’t know the player OR they don’t like the team that signed the player.
Does that mean that Jenkins slides over to OC?
Either him or Rhyan and what happens to Morgan? I’m not going to lie, I don’t love the contract. 63m guaranteed is a lot for a projection. And while this helps depth, we already had Morgan as 6th man.
Lol I just realized your name and profile picture are both about the Bears. Absolutely obsessed.
Why would I be obsessed with the Bears? They literally have been not relevant for 15 years. We beat them 11/12 last times we’ve played.
What does annoy me? Bears fans. Every offseason they think they’re great. Every season by Halloween, they’re silent.
*Has Bears in his username*
*Has Bears in his profile picture*
*Constantly talking about the Bears*
“Why would I be obsessed with the Bears?”
Or… (and wait for it) I lived in Chicago for seven years in undergrad and thereafter. Most of my friends are Bears fans, and I enjoy roasting them…
Your team has been bad. It will be bad.
2021 – You drafted Fields. Bragged all offseason
2022 – Nagy/Pace Fired. Poles Hired
2023 – Panther Haul
2024 – Caleb and Rome
2025 – Ben Johnson and OL overhaul.
Tell me. Why will THIS year be different? Everyone else has been hearing this for every March through July.
It’s old, dude.
It’s going to be different because we landed the most coveted head coaching candidate in a decade who is an offensive genius. And our Offensive line is exponentially better than it has been in years. And because we have three picks in the top 41 in the draft.
The Bears have improved significantly. The Packers haven’t and Jordan Love’s last season is a more realistic picture of who he is as a QB.
I hate to break this to you buddy, but as the last game of the 2024 season indicated, your days of beating up on the Bears are over for a while.
Hahahahah. I’ve seen that so many times. It was dumb then. It’s dumb now. Some fans follow good orgs and some follow bad ones. I am the former. You the latter. Accept it and you’ll be happier.
I get why fans might not be excited about this contract but let’s not forget Walker, Tom and Rhyan are all free agents next year and Gutey will likely not be able to extend all three.
By front loading Banks’ deal and hopefully extending Tom this offseason and one of the other two (preferably Rhyan) next offseason, it should spread out the cost of having four O-lineman on second contracts. Based on this the Packers plan is for Morgan to slide into a starting role next offseason since he didn’t get a full season to develop.
Please bring in an actual veteran “No.1” WR to help the youngsters! (Not Kupp!!) Experience, respect, and presence is needed. Adams would have been great. But, that bridge was burned in 2021.