Assessing First Impressions, Recollections, and Interrogations Regarding Green Bay Packers Free Agency Transactions
Green Bay's Packers are stirring up a fuss with their recent hiring spree during the NFL's 'legal tampering period.' General manager Brian Gutekunst handed out a hefty contract to left guard Aaron Banks, worth $77 million over four years, and a whopping $48 million deal to cornerback Nate Hobbs. These moves have left some fans scratching their heads, but let's break it down.
Banks, a second-round draft pick by San Francisco in 2021, has been a solid, yet unremarkable starter. He allowed just one sack on 775 snaps last season, but Pro Football Focus ranked him 37th out of 135 guards in run blocking and 77th in pass blocking overall. Still, Gutekunst passed over veteran free-agent center Josh Myers, opting instead to tweak two spots on their offensive line with Banks.
Hobbs, a fifth-round draft pick by Las Vegas in 2021, has been a starting slot corner for the Raiders but missed 16 games due to injury over the last three years. He has three interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 19 pass deflections, but his coverage skills are suspect, and Pro Football Focus ranked him 110th out of 223 corners last season. With the anticipated departure of cornerback Jaire Alexander, the hopes are that Hobbs will make the transition to the perimeter and improve on his performance.
Gutekunst's history in free agency has been hit-or-miss, with successful signings like Za'Darius and Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, and Billy Turner leading the Packers to the NFC Championship Game for two straight years and an NFC top seed in 2021. However, the jury is still out on these latest additions, and they are taking a gamble by handing out big money to players with questionable track records.
In addition to the new hires, the Packers have lost defensive tackle T.J. Slaton to Cincinnati, and it's unclear if they will make a run at keeping Myers, their center for the past four years. Meanwhile, questions remain about the future of cornerback Jaire Alexander. The Packers may release or trade him to gain an additional $6.8 million in salary cap space. Despite these changes, the Packers still have needs to address at wide receiver and defensive end ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft.
- Despite the doubts from some fans, Brian Gutekunst, the general manager of the Green Bay Packers, has handed significant contracts to cornerback Nate Hobbs and left guard Aaron Banks, who have somewhat questionable track records.
- Aaron Banks, a second-round pick by San Francisco in 2021, performed solidly as a starter, but his rankings in run blocking and pass blocking were average at best, according to Pro Football Focus.
- On the other hand, Nate Hobbs, a fifth-round pick by Las Vegas in 2021, has been a starting slot corner for the Raiders but has been plagued by injuries, and his coverage skills are under scrutiny, as his ranking among corners was 110th out of 223 last season, according to the same source.