Early returns reveal troubling trend for the Packers’ recent free agent class and raise questions about roster decisions
Green Bay gave big deals in free agency to left guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs, but things haven’t been great so far.
Free agency brings inevitable risk, one that Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has successfully overcome. For the most part, his big-ticket signings have been excellent, varying from moderately successful to extremely effective for the roster — Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, Billy Turner, Xavier McKinney, and Josh Jacobs are the most notable examples.
This year, though, things haven’t looked as promising — at least through the first six games of the season. In March, the Packers gave big contracts to guard Aaron Banks and to cornerback Nate Hobbs, and the early returns are not positive.
Cost of doing business
In free agency, overpay is a trend. McKinney, for example, was projected to get $13 million a year in 2024, and the Packers gave him $17 million a year. Nobody is complaining about that deal. The problem is that McKinney and Jacobs had real potential to be elite players at their respective positions.
With Banks and Hobbs, the Packers paid average players to fill roster needs. That’s when overpaying can be more dangerous.
Left guard Aaron Banks has never been a Pro Bowl or All-Pro player. For the most part, he was a decent starter for the San Francisco 49ers throughout his rookie deal. Because of that, and how hard it is to find competent offensive linemen, his projection was around $10 million to $12 million per year. That’s why it was a surprise when Green Bay gave him a four-year, $77 million contract.
Banks ended up being the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in free agency. Players with similar production got much less — Will Fries ($17.5 million), Patrick Mekari ($12.5 million), Mekhi Becton ($10 million), James Daniels ($8 million), Teven Jenkins ($3.05 million).
The cornerback market, however, was much more complicated. The four top options got $18 million a year — Byron Murphy, Charvarius Ward, Carlton Davis, and Paulson Adebo. Moreover, Adebo was the only one to reach his second NFL contract, something the Packers usually prioritize. D.J. Reed got $16 million a year from the Detroit Lions.
So while Hobbs was projected to get something around $8 million a year, he received $12 million from Green Bay, similar to the contract Brandon Stephens got from the New York Jets.
That shows the Packers signed Banks and Hobbs for different reasons. With the guard, it was a true belief that he would fit the team and could be perfect for the offensive line. With Hobbs, it was an understanding of the dire need at the position.
Underwhelming production so far
Banks was an average guard with the 49ers, but better in run block than he was in pass protection — that’s ultimately why the Packers signed him. With the Packers, though, things haven’t been like that. He’s had a 97.7 pass block efficiency, giving up four pressures in four games.
The problem is that the run block has been bad. His 43.8 run-blocking grade via PFF is his career worst by far, down from 68.9 in 2024.
Meanwhile, Hobbs has posted his worst coverage grade (54.0) in the NFL and the worst passer rating when targeted (127.1) amongst Packers cornerbacks. He’s been good in run defense, but that’s less important playing as a boundary corner.
And that’s the origin of his problems. Hobbs has always been better as a slot corner, and the Packers have used him almost exclusively as a boundary player. The idea is to keep him there, with Javon Bullard in the slot, but that’s probably a suboptimal combination. Carrington Valentine is the more proven and effective boundary corner, which would force Hobbs and Bullard to compete for the slot job. Maybe a rotation based on the situation would make sense.
To make things more complicated, even the cheap swings didn’t pay off. The Packers released wide receiver Mecole Hardman and linebacker Isaiah Simmons. Kristian Welch is on the practice squad.
There’s still time to fix the issues, but the Packers’ 2025 free agent class hasn’t gotten a great start.
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