The Green Bay Packers' shaky offensive line play hurt them in the first half of the season, raising questions about the team's $77 million investment in Aaron Banks when free agency opened.
Banks struggled to stay healthy during training camp and then early in the season, and his inconsistent performances also left a lot to be desired. However, as Banks and the Packers' offensive line have found continuity and steadied the ship, the entire unit has started to thrive. Head coach Matt LaFleur has seen his veteran guard take a positive step.
"I think he's really kind of turned a corner," LaFleur said, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
And he's absolutely right. Signing Banks at a top-of-the-market price never made much sense, and his early-season struggles only increased frustration. But as Banks has gotten healthier, he's started to turn it around.
Aaron Banks is beginning to reach the level the Packers need in the middle of playoff push
Injuries played a part in Banks' struggles. He missed two games and played fewer than 50 percent of the snaps in two others. His worst performance arrived in the Packers' woeful loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in Week 10. The offense managed just seven points, and Banks had precious few answers for the Eagles' defensive front.
According to Pro Football Focus, Banks surrendered six pressures and two quarterback hits, comfortably his worst performance of the season. He also received a disappointing run-blocking grade of 49.1, his third lowest this year.
READ MORE: Micah Parsons just said what the NFL is terrified to admit about Jordan Love
In the three games since, Banks has allowed fewer pressures (five) than he did against Philadelphia. He also hasn't allowed a single sack or quarterback hit.
It's no surprise that the offense has elevated its level and led the Packers to consecutive victories over the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions.
In that time, the Packers also had to move Sean Rhyan to center following Elgton Jenkins' season-ending injury, while LaFleur replaced Jordan Morgan with Anthony Belton at right guard. While Belton has made an inconsistent start in a new position, he has also shown clear flashes of his second-round potential. For now, it remains his job ahead of Morgan.
The Banks-Rhyan-Belton trio has helped bolster the ground game, while the line bottled up the Lions' pass rush on Thanksgiving, allowing zero sacks or hits on Jordan Love.
Handing Banks $77 million still feels like a significant overpay, but the veteran is beginning to show why the Packers moved quickly on the opening day of free agency. His unexpected rise is helping the offensive line level up at just the right time.