It's hard to argue with the Green Bay Packers' offseason work. The Micah Parsons trade alone lands general manager Brian Gutekunst an A+.
Yet as Matt LaFleur attempts to pick up the pieces from an utterly humiliating performance from his offensive line, one move is giving the Packers 77 million reasons to feel some regret.
Green Bay's decision to sign Aaron Banks amid the chaos of free agency's first wave made little sense. By paying him $77 million, the Packers launched Banks into the top tier of guards based on salary, but certainly not performance.
The Packers overpaid. The free-agent market quickly proved that, with Banks' $19.25 million salary comfortably leading the way among contracts handed to guards on the open market. Only Will Fries, who received a $17.54 million salary from the Minnesota Vikings, landed a deal worth more than $12.5 million per year.
It was obvious in March, and nothing in September has made the Packers' wild free agency move look any better.
Packers' decision to sign Aaron Banks for $77 million is already haunting them
Banks has battled injuries since arriving in Green Bay. He missed time during training camp due to a back issue, and while that is now behind him, groin and ankle injuries have limited his regular-season action.
The veteran missed Week 2 and then had to exit early in last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns.
In the NFL, the best ability is availability, right? Well, in Banks' case, maybe not. If anything, the Packers' decision looks even worse when he is on the field.
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Banks has played 73 snaps across two games, and the early results are underwhelming. And that's putting it kindly. According to Pro Football Focus, Banks has allowed two pressures and a sack on 43 pass-block snaps, but that's just the beginning.
His overall PFF grade of 38.3 ranks 92nd among 95 guards. His 33.9 pass-blocking grade is good for only 82nd, and his run-blocking grade ranks 89th. Let me remind you that his salary ranks fifth among left guards. Something isn't adding up here.
The entire offensive line has struggled in recent weeks. Not just Banks. A lack of continuity is partly to blame, and that will hopefully improve if the injury concerns ease up.
But that's no excuse. Banks is now one of the highest-paid guards in the league but, when healthy, is performing like one of the worst.
Fortunately, it's Week 4, and there's time to turn it around. But as the regular season nears the quarter mark, the Packers' decision to sign Banks is giving them 77 million reasons for regret.