One of the premier interior offensive linemen appears to have been secured on the first day of the NFL free agency period. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, 49ers guard Aaron Banks has reached a contractual agreement with the Green Bay Packers. The deal is reportedly a four-year, $77 million contract.

A graduate of Notre Dame, Banks was selected by San Francisco with the 48th pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. At 27 years old, he has started 38 out of the 48 games he has played since joining the league and in 2024, allowed just one sack over 775 snaps as noted by PFF. He will now head to Green Bay to bolster the protection for quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers, who finished the season with an 11-6 record and suffered a Wild Card playoff defeat to the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles.

The Green Bay Packers have made their first move in free agency, albeit not in the position many anticipated. While cornerbacks, defensive linemen, and wide receivers were being signed at the onset of the NFL’s negotiation period, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst remained inactive. However, Gutekunst was focused on reinforcing the interior of his offensive line by acquiring guard Aaron Banks from the San Francisco 49ers.

The Packers concluded their season with three different players filling the left guard spot in a single game. During the playoff loss to the Eagles, Elgton Jenkins exited with a stinger and was substituted by Travis Glover. As a rookie, Glover had a disastrous performance, lasting fewer than 15 snaps and accumulating penalties and negative plays until being replaced by Kadeem Telfort.

That day lingered in Gutekunst’s memory as he ventured into the free agent market and signed Banks to a deal reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport as a four-year contract valued at $77 million. Does that seem like a hefty sum for a guard? Indeed, unless you heed Gutekunst’s end-of-season remarks. “Those big guys are tough to come by, so addressing that is something we always consider,” he stated. “We’ve been consistent with that approach during our tenure here.

We firmly believe that, aside from the quarterback position, dominating the trenches is crucial to our success. As we progress, we have some decisions to make regarding the offensive line, and there could be some rearranging.” Gutekunst emphasized the significance of the offensive line in his team-building philosophy. Theoretically, the Packers were set in the interior heading into free agency.

Despite opting not to re-sign three-year starting center Josh Myers, returning starting left guard Elgton Jenkins, returning starting right guard Sean Rhyan, and 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan are set for 2025. With Banks joining the team, some “rearranging” is inevitable. Having been the 49ers’ starting left guard for the past three seasons and Jenkins having substantial experience at center, Jenkins might shift to the center role, with Morgan or Rhyan competing for the right guard spot.

Additional options exist. Rhyan completed the playoff game at center. Right tackle Zach Tom was Wake Forest’s starting center as a sophomore in 2019. The Packers have experimented with this possibility during the offseason and in training camp, but Gutekunst’s comments from the Scouting Combine suggest it might be unlikely.