Three-plus hours after free agency negotiations began, the Green Bay Packers have landed their first big signing of 2025, though it is at a surprising position. Instead of landing a cornerback, wide receiver, or edge rusher, the Packers are bringing in one of the top offensive guards on the market.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Packers have agreed to a contract with Aaron Banks, who previously played for the San Francisco 49ers. Early indications put the contract at $77 million over four years, a $19.25 million average that would make Banks the sixth-highest-paid guard in the NFL.

A 2nd-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Banks has been a full-time starter for the 49ers for the past three seasons, playing primarily left guard. That position was already occupied by Elgton Jenkins, but Jenkins is a candidate to move to center with the Packers expected to let Josh Myers sign elsewhere in free agency.

Banks continues the Packers’ trend towards bigger interior linemen as well. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds. That could give the team a trio of starters across the interior who are all 6-foot-5 and at least 310 pounds: Jenkins is listed at 6-5 and 311 pounds, while right guard Sean Rhyan goes 6-5 and 321.

Banks’ experience within the Kyle Shanahan offense in San Francisco suggests that he should be a seamless fit into Matt LaFleur’s scheme. He is also, predictably, an good athlete for his size and position, posting a 7.47 RAS while putting up excellent results in the vertical (31 inches, 90th percentile) and 3-cone time (7.73 seconds, 75th percentile).

Banks was ranked as the #72 free agent overall in the 2025 class by Pro Football Focus, but is listed up at #35 by Matt Bowen of ESPN.