To kick off free agency, the Green Bay Packers added some reinforcements to their offensive line on Monday, agreeing to terms with free agent guard Aaron Banks.

Banks spent his first four seasons as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After emerging as a starter in his second season, Banks started in 43 games for the 49ers.

In college, Banks did play some at both tackle spots, but he was considered a guard prospect coming out of Notre Dame, and that’s where he’s spent his entire NFL career. Virtually all of Banks’ pro reps have been at left guard, which is likely where he will play in Green Bay.

It’s unclear what this means for Elgton Jenkins, who has been the team’s preferred starting left guard and is a two-time Pro Bowler. Fortunately, Jenkins offers some positional flexibility as he’s played all five positions during his time with the Packers. While Banks won’t be an upgrade over Jenkins, his addition should allow the team to play their best five linemen.

As a player, Banks isn’t a household name by any means, but he has built a reputation for being dependable in the run game and pass protection. According to ESPN Analytics, since 2022, he has a pass block win rate of 89.9% and a run block win rate of 66.5%. According to Pro Football Focus, Banks is coming off his best season, in which he allowed only one sack in 471 pass-blocking snaps and posted a career-high run-blocking grade of 68.9.

Of course, while statistics can provide a glimpse into a player’s ability, nothing paints a better picture than the film. So, today, we are looking at Banks’ tape and highlighting what he will bring to the Packers’ run game and pass game.

Let’s begin.

Run Blocking

At 6-5, 325 pounds, you would expect Banks to rely on his physicality in the run game. But for someone his size, he’s surprisingly quick. Watch as Banks does a nice job moving laterally to execute a reach block against the defensive tackle.

Here is another clip of Banks flashing his footwork and ability to generate movement. You can see he does a nice job moving his feet while engaging in the block, so the defender can’t make a play on the running back.

Banks possesses a solid blend of power and athleticism. Here, we see him win forcibly against the six-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro Chris Jones. While Jones is primarily known for his pass-rushing ability, he’s no slouch in the run game. This shows off Banks’ technical skills and functional play strength, as he’s able to get good hand placement and use his leg drive to displace Jones.

The Packers often utilize a zone-running scheme, which means it’s important to have offensive linemen who can operate in space. It looks like Banks is more than capable on this rep, where he climbs to the second level to wash out inside linebacker Nick Bolton to help spring a huge run.

Pass Blocking

Banks has plenty of core strength and length to ward off pass rushers. As you can see in the clip above, the three-tech tries to attack his outside shoulder, but Banks does a nice job shuffling his feet to keep the defender in front and extend his arms to control the block.

Banks displays good awareness in pass protection through his ability to process and pick up stunts. You can see he is able to pass off the penetrator before getting into position to block the looper. He also shows a little grittiness when he pushes the rusher to the ground at the end.

There’s a lot to like about Banks’ hand usage, including his ability to reset in pass protection. Initially, this rep doesn’t start so well as the defensive tackle is able to club his left hand. However, Banks is balanced and under control, so he’s able to recover and get his left hand back into the defender’s chest to stave off the rush. Even though the defensive tackle does get some vertical push, Banks recovers nicely to prevent a sack and allow the quarterback to find an open receiver downfield.

Conclusion

While Banks may not be a Pro Bowler, he is someone you can win with as your starting guard. In the run game, he flashes some impressive athleticism to execute reach blocks and get to the second level. He also uses his immense frame in the power run game to generate movement up front, which will benefit Josh Jacobs. You can tell how much his footwork has improved over the years.

As a pass blocker, Banks has good awareness to identify stunts and adequate agility to mirror most speed rushers. He also has the lower body and core strength to anchor against power rushers. I would say Banks is solid in pass protection but not impermeable. Sometimes, he loses the leverage battle.

Overall, I think it’s a safe bet that Banks will be the starting left guard in 2025. The Packers didn’t sign him to a four-year, $77 million contract to be a depth piece. What this means for the rest of the offensive line remains to be seen. Jenkins could end up sliding over center, which means last year’s first-round pick, Jordan Morgan, will most likely compete for a starting job at right guard or left tackle.

That being said, competition is never a bad thing, and this move gives Green Bay the flexibility to have a starting-caliber player as their sixth lineman.