Packers’ $77 Million Free Agent Explains Key Factor Behind Signing With Team

For the second offseason in a row, the Green Bay Packers were active players in free agency. They signed former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs to strengthen their secondary. Along with making former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks the highest-paid guard in this year’s free-agent class, they also added former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman to boost the offense.

The Packers improved from a 9-8 record in 2023 to 11-6 in 2024. If that upward trend continues, they should be strong contenders for the NFC’s top seed in 2025. There is a sense of urgency within the organization to compete for championships, and they have made notable strides over the past two years—reaching the postseason while being the youngest team in the league.

Green Bay should be closer to a title run than most teams in 2025, and that Super Bowl belief is what drew one of their top free-agent signings to join the Packers this year.

"They've been in the playoffs every year and it's a young team and guys are only getting better," Banks said via Packers.com’s Wes Hodkiewicz. 

"As the younger guys on this team start to become older guys and then we start to bring everybody along, I just think we're really close. I think we have all the tools and all the pieces to get there, and not only get there but win it."

Banks should be Green Bay’s starting left guard. Elgton Jenkins will likely move to center, with Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker holding down the tackle spots. The right guard position is the most open for competition, but Sean Rhyan should start the season there.

Aaron Banks has 43 career starts, including the San Francisco 49ers’ 25-22 Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. With over 2,963 career snaps at left guard, he arrives in Green Bay to add even more physicality up front. 

His $77 million deal is a big bet on the Packers’ part—and while the narrative this offseason has been that it was an overpay, that will not matter if he balls out and puts together a Pro Bowl-caliber season in his first year wearing green and gold.