The former Notre Dame football star will get a second chance to make the most of his NFL career with a big payday.
It’s that season again! Former Notre Dame football offensive linemen are securing lucrative deals in free agency. It turns out that two ex-teammates have both landed significant contracts with new teams.
Earlier this week, Robert Hainsey signed a deal worth around $ 7 million annually, likely guaranteeing him a starting position for at least this season. Now, Aaron Banks, who shared the offensive line with Hainsey at Notre Dame, is also embarking on a new journey.
Banks has signed a 4-year contract worth $ 77 million with the Green Bay Packers, and it looks like he may be stepping into a starting role for his new team. This development is particularly intriguing given that scouts have often noted Banks hasn’t performed as well in the NFL as he did during his college career.
Former Notre Dame football lineman finds an NFL payday
Banks’ new contract includes $27 million in fully guaranteed money, but given that Green Bay is unlikely to part ways with him after just one season, he is expected to earn at least $47.5 million over the next two years.
He spent his first four NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he started the majority of games. However, despite being a regular starter, the 49ers were comfortable letting him walk in free agency.
A key factor in that decision was Banks’ struggles in pass protection. He ranked 153rd out of 200 qualifying offensive linemen in blown block rate, according to Sports Info Solutions, and was tied for the second-highest pressure rate allowed on San Francisco’s offensive line. Over the past three seasons, he has consistently been among the team’s leaders in pressures surrendered.
Despite these challenges, Banks has plenty of potential, and a change of scenery could help him unlock it. During his time at Notre Dame from 2017 to 2020, he was a dominant force, earning First-Team All-ACC honors, a spot on ESPN’s All-America Team, and First-Team All-America recognition from the Associated Press. Now in Green Bay, he has an opportunity to rediscover that form.
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