The Green Bay Packers made their first splash in the free-agency waters on Monday by agreeing to a deal with former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks.
Banks has primarily played left guard in the NFL. His signing clearly indicates what the Packers plan on doing at center.
Starting free agency with a move at offensive line may come as a surprise, given the team’s clear needs elsewhere. However, it became a significant need after SI.com’s Bill Huber reported earlier on Monday that the team plans to move on from center Josh Myers.
Banks doesn’t solve the center riddle. In his four seasons in the NFL, Banks has played 2,968 snaps, and 2,963 of them have come at left guard.
Green Bay has one of the league’s best left guards in Elgton Jenkins. The Packers selected Jenkins in the second round of the 2019 draft for many reasons, but one big one was his versatility. Jenkins has started 87 games in six seasons with the Packers. He’s logged starts at four of the positions up front on the O-line.
The Myers news early Monday had many believing the replacement would come in-house, with either Jenkins or Sean Rhyan sliding into his spot. Jacob Monk also could be a possibility.
Green Bay signed Banks, who played nearly every single snap of the last four years at left guard, indicating that Jenkins will move to center.
Jenkins has the flexibility and the experience to slide in.
Banks doesn’t.
When Myers missed Week 9 last year with a wrist injury, it was Jenkins who got the start at center. Green Bay had other options but went with the left guard scooching over one spot to the right.
Bringing Banks into the building makes it clearer that Myers won’t return. They play different positions, but the money is already spread out enough on the offensive line, especially considering right tackle Zach Tom should be getting a huge payday soon.
Brian Gutekunst praised Myers in January but was non-committal about re-signing him.
Josh, I thought he had his best year. I thought he dealt with some things during this year that were tough, and I thought he fought through it like a champion and, certainly, (is) an asset to our football team. I know Jordan trusts him very much as his center.
It all sounds fine and dandy until you realize Gutekunst said the team “would love” to have kicker Brandon McManus back and that the team was working towards that. The Packers have since re-signed McManus. Gutekunst also made similar statements about inside linebacker Quay Walker, noting the team would prefer to have Walker around for the years to come.
He showered Myers with praise, but you’ll note he didn’t say anything suggesting the Packers would prioritize re-signing him. Now, the writing is on the wall.
With Banks agreeing to a deal and not having the versatility that the Packers typically prefer with their offensive lineman, the smart money is on Jenkins to slide to center and for Myers to go to another team.
Banks will start at left guard, where he’s only allowed one sack across 1,068 pass-blocking snaps in the last two seasons. The contract is mighty large, with Green Bay forking over $77 million over four years with $63 million coming in the first three years of the deal.
On one side of the coin, most regarded Banks as the best guard on the market. Still, it’s a lot of money to give to a guard who has been good but not otherworldly.
It could be the cost of business in this free agency cycle, with the salary cap rising and plenty of teams having deep pockets.
Green Bay now has some options to play with. Still, no matter how you slice up the pie, Jenkins always lands at center.
Does Rasheed Walker stay at left tackle, or will 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan get an extended look? Will Sean Rhyan remain at right guard, or will Morgan get looks there? Those questions will get sorted out over time and throughout the offseason and training camp.
What isn’t up for debate is that Banks was inked to a deal to be the left guard, where he’s built a solid foundation in the NFL.
The Banks signing showed Green Bay’s commitment to ensure that quarterback Jordan Love is protected with the best of them. It also showed their plan at center moving forward, which revolved around Jenkins.
