Aaron Banks - Guard Free Agent Signing 2025

[tynimiller]

Contract Details Known now (added 3/12/2025)

4 yrs/$77M SB of $27M (only guaranteed money)

Year1 cap hit is a mere $9.15M
Year2 is $24.85M and could save already $2.5M by cutting
Year3 is $22.25M and could save nearly $10M by cutting
Year4 is $20.75M and could save $14M by cutting

IF Banks proves to be a starter this is fine, you could ride out his entire contract - cap will only continue to rise and the 20-25M range for a starting guard while seems high now won't be in the close future. Personally I'd have bumped the year one hit higher but this tells me they're planning to still add some hits to this year's cap.

 

[Dantés]

Contract Details Known now (added 3/12/2025)

4 yrs/$77M SB of $27M (only guaranteed money)

Year1 cap hit is a mere $9.15M
Year2 is $24.85M and could save already $2.5M by cutting
Year3 is $22.25M and could save nearly $10M by cutting
Year4 is $20.75M and could save $14M by cutting

IF Banks proves to be a starter this is fine, you could ride out his entire contract - cap will only continue to rise and the 20-25M range for a starting guard while seems high now won't be in the close future. Personally I'd have bumped the year one hit higher but this tells me they're planning to still add some hits to this year's cap.

This is why the Packers are willing to pay a higher AAV for a longer contract with less guarantees. They have Banks under control through age 30 but if he hits a wall, they have the flexibility to move on earlier.

 

[Dantés]

It’s funny to me that the Packers spend 19.5 AAV on a guard in his prime and everyone balks, but the Vikings spend 20 AAV on a 30 year old defensive tackle who just got cut for cap savings and everyone fawns.

 

[mradtke66]

But he never took a single snap, even though we had serious depth problems on the O line - especially late in the season, after he'd had almost 6 months in the system, but they still didn't trust him to step in and play a role?

I have a strong suspicion the staff sees Monk as a center-only player. Our depth issues were at guard, so they never saw a good chance to use him.

Speculation, of course.

 

[mradtke66]

Here's what I've got on the Banks signing:

-The Packers clearly love the idea of Jenkins at center.

-The Packers clearly don't see Morgan as a left guard. It's TBD whether they want him to be the future at RG or LT.

It's also possible they want to move Banks to RG once they get him here. Jenkins to C and Banks to LG is certainly a reasonable thought given Banks' history, but in a world where Monk is our best center, having two good guards in Jenkins and Banks would make Monk's job significantly easier.

Jenkins might not want to be a center--centers get paid less than guards and he likely has a chance to get one last big contract. Highest paid center: Creed Humphrey at 18M per year average. Number 2 center is 14M. There are 5 guards averaging over 20M per year, 13 making 18M or more pear year.

Similarly, that would mean Morgan and Rhyan, two guys who started for us last year, are suddenly our 6th and 7th lineman. Rhyan would presumably be the interior backup and Morgan would be freed to compete for the starting LT job and the loser of Morgan/Walker is your swing. That's suddenly a very strong group.

I'm not saying this is a certainty, just a possibility.

 

[RRyder]

The Packers have drafted 14 O-linemen since Gut took over in 2018. I don’t think they know how to draft O-line. If they did they wouldn’t be signing one, he should already be on the team. Contrary to popular opinion out there, I don’t think the Packers know how to build a good team in the NFL of today. Their own division rivals have all passed them up and I think they have a good chance of occupying the basement position at the end 2025. Having Aaron Rodgers as quarterback covered up their failures in the draft. The only thing that will save them is a fan revolt which I don’t see coming anytime soon. One of the disadvantages of having a diffuse style of ownership, but not inferior to egotistical forms of ownership. Good luck to the Niners with the loss of so many of their players.

If only we didn't have a good team that's made the POs the last two years without Aaron Rodgers this might not be an asinine post

 

[Dantés]

It's also possible they want to move Banks to RG once they get him here. Jenkins to C and Banks to LG is certainly a reasonable thought given Banks' history, but in a world where Monk is our best center, having two good guards in Jenkins and Banks would make Monk's job significantly easier.

Jenkins might not want to be a center--centers get paid less than guards and he likely has a chance to get one last big contract. Highest paid center: Creed Humphrey at 18M per year average. Number 2 center is 14M. There are 5 guards averaging over 20M per year, 13 making 18M or more pear year.

Similarly, that would mean Morgan and Rhyan, two guys who started for us last year, are suddenly our 6th and 7th lineman. Rhyan would presumably be the interior backup and Morgan would be freed to compete for the starting LT job and the loser of Morgan/Walker is your swing. That's suddenly a very strong group.

I'm not saying this is a certainty, just a possibility.

Monk was only a 5th round pick and a healthy scratch the entire season, so I would not anticipate him beating out any of the top six guys. If they felt that strongly about him, they wouldn’t make such a large investment in an interior offensive lineman.

 

[milani]

@Wraith09. What? The Packers have drafted
Round 1 (1 selection that was lost to injury and not enough information)

2nd round: 1 Center Myers who played through his contract as a reliable starter. 1 OG Jenkins who is one of the better players at his position in the league and more versatile than many 2nd rounders.

3rd Round: 1 player Rhyan who is currently a starter at RG, but could get outplayed by the above day 1 pick

4th Round: 2 selections Tom, who is one of the best RT in the NFL. Royce Newman who was an upper grade backup and actually started for a season + at RG.

6th Round: 5 players. 1 which never showed up at no fault of the Packers. So really 4.
Stepaniak who fizzled,
Runyon jr who became a mainstay at RG and is still a starter outside of GB
Van Lanen who fizzled and
Glover who’s too new to tell (2024)

RD7 Walker who’s a Starting LT today


So essentially if you take out the self disqualified Center Cole and the ones too new to judge (2024) you have 8 players to adequately judge. 6 of those 8 either started multiple seasons or are current starters and would be on many teams.

So in short. That’s actually a pretty solid “B” grade on a “C” scale imo. I don’t give out “feel good” draft grades like some sites do post draft to pat everyone on the back I use a “C”average draft scale is middle of the league.

The only ones that didn’t work out are a smaller group of 2-3 later 6th rounders. Big whoop. How many teams out if 32 would you put ahead of GB drafting at OL since 2018 and which teams are they?

Good point. And I never saw Gute sign a washed up Jeff Saturday either.

 

[mradtke66]

Monk was only a 5th round pick and a healthy scratch the entire season,

Not that it is a glowing endorsement, but he was active for 10 games as a rookie. Pretty sure he only took special team snaps.

If they felt that strongly about him, they wouldn’t make such a large investment in an interior offensive lineman.

I don't see them, hmm, immediately related. Meyers out, Banks in is at worst, 1:1.

My musing is more that the league values guards more. I'm basing that primarily on the salary differences at the position. If Jenkins are Banks are the best two interior players, then it makes sense to keep them at guard. That of course presumes we have someone else who can reliably snap the ball. I propose Monk because he was a college center. Jenkins was also a college center, with him being a guard recently, it would not surprise me if he's less good a snapping.

 

[OldSchool101]

It's also possible they want to move Banks to RG once they get him here. Jenkins to C and Banks to LG is certainly a reasonable thought given Banks' history, but in a world where Monk is our best center, having two good guards in Jenkins and Banks would make Monk's job significantly easier.

Jenkins might not want to be a center--centers get paid less than guards and he likely has a chance to get one last big contract. Highest paid center: Creed Humphrey at 18M per year average. Number 2 center is 14M. There are 5 guards averaging over 20M per year, 13 making 18M or more pear year.

Similarly, that would mean Morgan and Rhyan, two guys who started for us last year, are suddenly our 6th and 7th lineman. Rhyan would presumably be the interior backup and Morgan would be freed to compete for the starting LT job and the loser of Morgan/Walker is your swing. That's suddenly a very strong group.

I'm not saying this is a certainty, just a possibility.

While I agree for all the reasons you displayed look accurate. I just have a hard time imagining Jordan Morgan as our backup. Unless we are considering trading an OL later this year? Which is an interesting idea. I’m not going to go down in depth, but I could see a world where Morgan gets worked in as a swing Tackle this year and before trade deadline if he looks legit we trade Walker. That’s just a wild idea but I’m sure everything had either been discussed or is on the table. It would likely have to be a really stellar offer of compensation from a relatively desperate team to do that though.

 

[Dantés]

Not that it is a glowing endorsement, but he was active for 10 games as a rookie. Pretty sure he only took special team snaps.



I don't see them, hmm, immediately related. Meyers out, Banks in is at worst, 1:1.

My musing is more that the league values guards more. I'm basing that primarily on the salary differences at the position. If Jenkins are Banks are the best two interior players, then it makes sense to keep them at guard. That of course presumes we have someone else who can reliably snap the ball. I propose Monk because he was a college center. Jenkins was also a college center, with him being a guard recently, it would not surprise me if he's less good a snapping.

Ah, he was a healthy scratch by the end of the season. I didn’t realize that was not the case earlier. 43 special teams snaps.

The Packers made the investment in Banks in order to move Jenkins to center. If they liked Monk to start this year, why not leave well enough alone?

 

[AmishMafia]

Monk was only a 5th round pick and a healthy scratch the entire season, so I would not anticipate him beating out any of the top six guys. If they felt that strongly about him, they wouldn’t make such a large investment in an interior offensive lineman.

You never know what his limitation might have been. I suspect it had to do with translating the Duke system to the NFL. Monk's teammate, Graham Barton, a first round pick, played over 1,000 snaps and graded out as below average in PFF. Had the most penalties (13) in the NFL. So a 5th round pick may have been a bit below that as well. I dont think the Packers were expecting him to play and are perhaps not disappointed with his rate of development.

 

[mradtke66]

The Packers made the investment in Banks in order to move Jenkins to center. If they liked Monk to start this year, why not leave well enough alone?

We don't know, with certainty, that they did this to move Jenkins to center. I certainly concede that is possible and I get the through process. Banks was a LG for the 49ers, ergo, it makes sense to make him our LG. But Jenkins is our LG. One of the two has to move from the position they played in 2024.

What makes Jenkins to Center the best choice? Jenkins or Banks could move to RG and the other could stay at LG. I would rather the better two players stay at guard and put the new guy at Center. Centers almost always have help from one of the guards, while the guards need to execute their assignment 1:1 roughly half of the time.

 

[mradtke66]

While I agree for all the reasons you displayed look accurate. I just have a hard time imagining Jordan Morgan as our backup. Unless we are considering trading an OL later this year?

It doesn't have to be that wild. Put Morgan and Walker in open competition for the LT spot. Even if Morgan doesn't win the spot, it gives the team the option of not re-signing Walker in 2026 if they think Morgan will be ready by then.

Of if by some crazy circumstance, Morgan really is only our 6th best lineman in 2026, we could consider trading him. Never enough good linemen in this league.

 

[Dantés]

You never know what his limitation might have been. I suspect it had to do with translating the Duke system to the NFL. Monk's teammate, Graham Barton, a first round pick, played over 1,000 snaps and graded out as below average in PFF. Had the most penalties (13) in the NFL. So a 5th round pick may have been a bit below that as well. I dont think the Packers were expecting him to play and are perhaps not disappointed with his rate of development.

I’m not down on Monk. I liked the pick. But he isn’t going to be keeping Morgan and Rhyan on the bench this season.

 

[Dantés]

We don't know, with certainty, that they did this to move Jenkins to center. I certainly concede that is possible and I get the through process. Banks was a LG for the 49ers, ergo, it makes sense to make him our LG. But Jenkins is our LG. One of the two has to move from the position they played in 2024.

What makes Jenkins to Center the best choice? Jenkins or Banks could move to RG and the other could stay at LG. I would rather the better two players stay at guard and put the new guy at Center. Centers almost always have help from one of the guards, while the guards need to execute their assignment 1:1 roughly half of the time.

Connected beat guys reported as much after Banks was signed.

Jenkins is the best choice at center because he’s a much better player right now than any other option.

 

[mradtke66]

Connected beat guys reported as much after Banks was signed.

They could be wrong. I could be wrong.

Jenkins is the best choice at center because he’s a much better player right now than any other option.

Unless he’s a better guard and we have an adequate center. We could easily end up with an obvious starter following the draft.

 

[Dantés]

They could be wrong. I could be wrong.

Unless he’s a better guard and we have an adequate center. We could easily end up with an obvious starter following the draft.

It’s technically possible that they plan to start Malik Willis over Jordan Love too.

 

[tynimiller]

It’s technically possible that they plan to start Malik Willis over Jordan Love too.

I heard McManus was resigned for wildcat snaps too

 

[mradtke66]

It’s technically possible that they plan to start Malik Willis over Jordan Love too.

Touché, though I’d say it’s more likely for Jenkins to not want to be a center. Centers get paid less than guards do and he likely has one last big contract in him. And it’s more likely to be from another team.

 

[Dantés]

Touché, though I’d say it’s more likely for Jenkins to not want to be a center. Centers get paid less than guards do and he likely has one last big contract in him. And it’s more likely to be from another team.

Yeah it’s not a perfect comparison. What you’re arguing is more likely than Willis starting over Love. But still totally unlikely.

Jenkins has put enough tape out there at guard that moving to center won’t hurt his market. If anything, proving he can do both at a high level will make him some money.

 

[tynimiller]

I wouldn’t be shocked one bit if we were extend him now or in future year as a result of the move. Put some more money in his pocket one last decent time but also change his cap hits and such more beneficial in his few remaining prime years

 

[gopkrs]

I kind of think the idea that tackles are worth so much more both in money and draft status is unwinding. Same with center. It's more important how good you are imho. And sometimes how well you run block. A tackle that does not run block well is limited imo

 

[mradtke66]

I kind of think the idea that tackles are worth so much more both in money and draft status is unwinding. Same with center. It's more important how good you are imho. And sometimes how well you run block. A tackle that does not run block well is limited imo

I think it matters more than you think.

While not perfect, look at the average yearly salaries per position. Number 1 center makes 18m per year. Number 2 is 14m. And this isn’t a case of older centers setting the market and not keeping up. Creed is the number 1 paid center.

There are 5 guards making over 20m per year. 16 guards making over 14m per year. In other words, the 16th best guard is more valuable than the second best center. Interestingly, RGs have more on the top end. Haven’t dug in to see if this is an age thing or not. Our own Mr Banks is at 19.2m.


There are 14 tackles making 20m or more per year. 32 of them making for than 14m per year.

The most expensive tackle averages over 28m per year, 10m more than the most expensive center.

I’d say there still a very obvious value tiers base on position.

 

[gopkrs]

I think it matters more than you think.

While not perfect, look at the average yearly salaries per position. Number 1 center makes 18m per year. Number 2 is 14m. And this isn’t a case of older centers setting the market and not keeping up. Creed is the number 1 paid center.

There are 5 guards making over 20m per year. 16 guards making over 14m per year. In other words, the 16th best guard is more valuable than the second best center. Interestingly, RGs have more on the top end. Haven’t dug in to see if this is an age thing or not. Our own Mr Banks is at 19.2m.


There are 14 tackles making 20m or more per year. 32 of them making for than 14m per year.

The most expensive tackle averages over 28m per year, 10m more than the most expensive center.

I’d say there still a very obvious value tiers base on position.

You are looking at the past. That is what I believe is going to change. And imho, has been kind of screwed up all along. Just because something has been a certain way, does not mean it has been correct. More valuable? Sure. But not by as much as has been thought. A lot depends on the individual player. And like I said, a tackle that can't run block well is a limited player.