The Green Bay Packers' surprising big-money move initially raised eyebrows, and it's now spiralling into a training camp problem.
Handing Aaron Banks a four-year, $77 million deal already screams overpay. It's a move the Packers may quickly regret. To make matters worse, Banks' arrival forces Elgton Jenkins to center, which has led to him holding out of the offseason program with the hopes of reworking his contract.
Trey Smith's blockbuster new deal with the Kansas City Chiefs shines another light on the Packers' potential offseason blunder. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the Chiefs have handed Smith a four-year deal worth $94 million.
Smith becomes the highest-paid guard in league history, but Banks isn't far behind. Smith's $23.5 million average salary tops the list, but the Packers' new signing ranks sixth. Smith, Landon Dickerson, Chris Lindstrom, Quenton Nelson, and Robert Hunt are the only guards earning more per year than Banks.
Those names share a combined 15 Pro Bowls and have made eight All-Pro teams.
Banks? Not so much. Last season, his Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade ranked 74th of 132 guards. His strength is run-blocking, but he still managed only 38th.
Packers' big-time Aaron Banks commitment continues to cause problems with training camp nearing
Overpaying a free agent is one thing, but the impact goes beyond that.
The Packers must find a solution with Jenkins, who understandably wants some financial security after being moved to a less lucrative position.
It's especially crucial given the bizarre situation around the NFL with a high number of second-round picks remaining unsigned. That includes Packers offensive lineman Anthony Belton, potentially delaying his start to training camp.
Jenkins wants some extra financial security, but are the Packers willing to give him what he wants? After all, his cap hit rises to $24.8 million next year, a number they will unlikely want to increase.
That's the gamble the Packers took by signing Banks. They could've kept Jenkins at left guard and signed a free-agent center or turned to the draft.
The Chicago Bears signed center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal in free agency. Among all guards and centers last season, Dalman ranked 16th in PFF run-blocking grade (Banks was 55th) and 66th in pass-blocking (Banks was 117th).
Another option? Move Jenkins to center, but have second-year Jordan Morgan compete with Belton for the left guard job.
Instead, the Packers created an unnecessary problem by giving Banks a $77 million deal.
What if Morgan or Belton outplays him at camp? His massive contract effectively locks him into a starting job. How does Jenkins' holdout end?
It was an avoidable problem, but here we are. Smith's contract with the Chiefs serves as a harsh reminder of what may become a big-time free-agency error for the Packers.