The Green Bay Packers are in a good position to challenge the Chicago Bears for the NFC North crown, but they'll need to answer several questions in training camp. One of them is whether the offensive line will hold up after undergoing changes in the offseason. The left guard spot, in particular, could be a reason for concern.
The team's brass signed Aaron Banks to start at left guard last year, but injuries prevented him from hitting his stride. Nevertheless, the Packers doubled down on their investment in Banks when they restructured his contract, ensuring that he'll stay in Titletown for at least a couple seasons.
Now, Banks is under pressure to repay the team's trust.
How did Aaron Banks do in his first season with the Packers
Banks was a second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. After four seasons in the Bay Area, he signed a four-year contract worth $77 million with Green Bay last year. From the get-go, the move raised eyebrows, not because he was a bad player, but rather because Green Bay already had a pretty good guard in Elgton Jenkins, not to mention the money the team handed Banks.
To pave the way for Banks, the team switched Jenkins to center, a position he hadn't played since college. In the end, the move failed to pay off. While Jenkins struggled with the transition, injuries prevented Banks from hitting his stride.
Baanks ultimately logged 814 offensive snaps in 15 games, giving up two sacks and 28 total pressures while posting a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 56.1. The good news is that the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish appears to be healthy, so he should have no trouble getting back on track. The issue is that he'll need to look over his shoulder.
The Packers desperately need Aaron Banks to bounce back
Banks was a fine-not-great guard for the 49ers, registering a PFF overall score higher than 60.0 just once in four seasons. That's why it was puzzling to see the Packers give him a top-market contract. Either way, that's done, and the contract will potentially look much better if he can play as he did in 2024, when he gave up just one sack and 24 total pressures. That said, the margin for error will be slim.
If Banks fails to bounce back, rookie Jager Burton will be lurking behind him. After a strong showing in the offseason program, head coach Matt LaFleur heaped praise on the fifth-round rookie, and nobody would bat an eye if he ends up starting at some point in 2026 if he keeps building his stock in training camp and the preseason.
That could spell bad news for Banks or even center Sean Rhyan, who just signed a three-year, $33 million extension. Even if Burton isn't a starter in Week 1, he could most definitely supplant one of the Packers' interior linemen this season.
Restructuring Banks' contract guarantees that he'll suit up for the Packers in 2026, but releasing him next year with a post-June 1 designation would free up over $15 million in space. The caveat is that it will also leave dead cap hits of $13.9 million and $16.3 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
But despite the dead cap, cutting ties with Banks in 2027 will become a realistic course of action if he underperforms. And that's the thing: injuries are unfortunate, but they're an inherent part of football, so the veteran will need to stay healthy and bounce back next season.
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