Packers make their first addition of the offseason, and clear intention is putting Jordan Love in the best position to succeed
The Green Bay Packers took some hours, but it has finally added an external free agent. According to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, the Packers are expected to sign former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million contract. The $19.25 million average puts him ahead of Elgton Jenkins as the Packers' […]
The Green Bay Packers took some hours, but it has finally added an external free agent. According to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, the Packers are expected to sign former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million contract.
The $19.25 million average puts him ahead of Elgton Jenkins as the Packers' highest paid offensive lineman—at least until Zach Tom gets his extension.
The decision to sign Banks indicates, as Sports Illustrated's Bill Huber had reported, that the team will move on from center Josh Myers. Banks has only played at left guard for the 49ers, which could project Jenkins going to center.
Intriguing repercussions
With Aaron Banks on the roster, the big question is where last year's first-round pick Jordan Morgan will play. Drafted as a tackle, he moved inside to guard in his rookie season but barely played because of a shoulder injury.
In 2025, Morgan can compete with Rasheed Walker for the starting left tackle job, or keep competing for the right guard spot with Sean Rhyan. Last year, Morgan rotated with Rhyan until he was ruled out for the rest of the season.
What the Packers are getting
A 27-year-old player, Aaron Banks was a second-round pick in 2021. He was taken 14 picks ahead of Josh Myers. A backup in his rookie season, Banks became a full-time starting left guard in 2022.
In three seasons as a starter for the 49ers, he played 2,581 snaps.
Last season, Banks had his best PFF grade (65.4) and best run-blocking grade (68.9). He gave up 25 pressures and a sack, with a 97.1 pass block efficiency.
Roster outlook
The Packers badly needed interior of the offensive line depth, and they decided to do it early in the process. Last year, the group got extremely thin after first-round rookie Jordan Morgan hurt his shoulder. Even though there was a backup center option on the roster in Jacob Monk, the coaching staff decided to keep him inactive for most of the season. Instead, Elgton Jenkins was used at center, and backup tackles Kadeem Telfort and Travis Glover moved inside to guard when necessary.
Now, Morgan is presumably getting back, but Josh Myers is a free agent. If he signs elsewhere, that's the second year in a row where the Packers would lose an interior offensive lineman in free agency. In 2024, guard Jon Runyan Jr. signed a three-year deal with the New York Giants.
Besides Aaron Banks, the Packers' roster has Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Jordan Morgan, Jacob Monk, Marquis Hayes, and Donovan Jennings as options to play at guard and center.
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