Cornerback. Defensive end. Wide receiver.
Those are the positions many expected Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst to address in free agency this year.
But Gutekunst threw everyone a curveball Monday when the Packers and left guard Aaron Banks agreed to a massive four-year, $77 million contract. The move can’t become official until Wednesday at 3 p.m. when free agency officially begins.
The NFL Network first reported the news.
The 27-year-old Banks was a second round draft pick of San Francisco in 2021 (No. 48 overall). Banks appeared in nine games as a reserve during his rookie season, then made 43 starts over the last three years.
According to Pro Football Focus, Banks allowed just one sack in 775 snaps last season. PFF also had Banks ranked 37th out of 135 guards in run blocking and 77th out of 135 guards in pass blocking.
“We’re always going to continue to address the offensive line because there’s just never enough of them,” Gutekunst said at the NFL Scouting Combine last month.
Banks joins an offensive line group that is expected to return four starters next season — tackles Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, along with guards Elgton Jenkins and Sean Rhyan. Jordan Morgan, a 2024 first round pick who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, will also factor in.
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Banks has played primarily left guard with the 49ers, which could mean Jenkins will move from that spot to center. Josh Myers — Green Bay’s center the past four years — is expected to depart in free agency.