Packers GM signals commitment to free agent strategy despite underwhelming first-year results
Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs should be retained.
The Green Bay Packers couldn’t have had a much better free agency in 2024, signing two Pro Bowlers in running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney. On the other hand, it couldn’t have been much worse in 2025.
Guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs signed significant contracts last offseason. Beyond the injuries, the performance itself wasn’t ideal. However, general manager Brian Gutekunst seems willing to keep them in 2026.
“With losing five games in a row, I don’t know if we’ve made any decisions on anybody yet,” Gutekunst said on Wednesday during his end-of-the-season press conference. “But those guys are under contract, so I would expect them back.”
Adjusted expectations
The questions around Banks and Hobbs emerged because they have no guarantees left on their deals, but the earnings in 2026 are still significant — Banks is slated to make $18.1 million, and Hobbs will make $9.05 million.
Nevertheless, Gutekunst is confident that both players can perform at a higher level if they are able to stay healthy.
“Aaron Banks hadn’t really missed much time in his career, so some of the things he went through were unexpected, but I really thought he played well toward the end of the season once he got healthy,” Gutekunst added. “And then with Hobbs, he’d had a little bit of these things before, but not as much as he had this past year.”
Despite how injuries affected Banks and Hobbs in 2025, Gutekunst doesn’t see it as a process problem.
“Those are always risks you take whenever you get into the free agency pool,” the GM said. “Most of these guys have had stuff. You play four or five years in the National Football League, you’re going to have some things you have to take risks on. We did. It didn’t work out this year with Hobbs, but we’ll see how it goes next year.”
The Packers may or may not be active in free agency this upcoming offseason, but the bets they made last year will still have an effect on the roster — either positive or negative — for years to come.
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