The Green Bay Packers made multiple big-money moves this offseason, and while just about everyone is talking about the Micah Parsons trade (and subsequent extension), the Packers also handed guard Aaron Banks a four-year, $77 million contract in free agency.
Green Bay's decision to sign Banks to such a lucrative deal was immediately met with raised eyebrows. Not because the Packers didn't need another piece in the trenches, but because it seemed like an awful lot of money to pay someone who has never made a Pro Bowl and played in just 13 games last season.
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Count Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon among those who aren't enamored with the move, as Gagnon has named Banks the most overpaid interior offensive lineman in the NFL.
"Banks has zero of those Pro Bowl nods, but he has the bigger deal following a move to Green Bay in free agency this offseason," Gagnon wrote. "He's now the sixth-highest-paid interior offensive lineman in the league, but the 2021 second-round pick didn't do much to earn that during a four-year run in San Francisco in which he lacked consistency and put up generally shoddy PFF grades."
Banks posted a 65.4 overall grade at Pro Football Focus in 2024, which ranked 50th among 136 qualifying guards. Terrible? No, but not exactly worth a contract that pays him $19.25 in average annual value.
To be fair, it's entirely possible that the Notre Dame product possesses untapped potential. It should be noted, though, that he is now 28 years old, so it's not like Banks is still a neophyte.
Perhaps playing in Green Bay will help bring out the best in Banks, who also has plenty of big-game experience from his San Francisco 49ers days.
And fortunately, the Packers' offensive line is pretty impressive as a collective, so maybe the rest of Green Bay's lineman will help elevate Banks.
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