The Detroit Lions have had a busy offseason, hoping to maintain the strong foundation they've set that seemingly guarantees they'll be contenders annually. Dan Campbell has done a terrific job, yet now faces his stiffest challenge yet after having lost both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs elsewhere.
Nonetheless, it's clear that the Lions are built for sustainable success. They should remain one of the best teams in the NFL and are now hoping to win the NFC North for a third straight season.
One of their key rivals, the Green Bay Packers, has failed to get over the hump with Jordan Love at quarterback, and one major decision still has Lions fans laughing at the mistake.
Aaron Banks’ agent is a once in a lifetime talent https://t.co/ytbRmkugdq
— karan (@905Kar) March 26, 2025
Lions Fans Still Laughing at Packers' Dramatic Aaron Banks Overpay
Earlier in the offseason, the Packers signed former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million extension. Banks will be 28 years old before the season starts and has just 43 career starts under his belt. Now, he's one of the highest-paid guards in the league despite the 49ers' recent reputation of offensive line struggles.
Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated agrees, giving the signing a pathetic D+ grade.
"Going to Green Bay, he’ll help anchor the left side while the Packers figure out the best spot for 2024 first-round rookie Jordan Morgan, who last season started just one game after struggling throughout the summer," Verderame wrote. "While Banks is an upgrade on the line, he’s also very expensive and comes to the Packers entering his age-28 season without a ton of upside."
The point on Morgan is an important one, because the versatile lineman was supposed to take one of the starting jobs by now. You don't draft someone in the first round without the intention of turning them into a starter by year two at the latest, yet the Packers were forced to overpay Banks because of Morgan's stalled development.
In a league with a salary cap, paying $77 million for a guard isn't typically good business. It's not here, and Detroit should be grateful that Green Bay overreacted. At the least, it'll be fun to watch Aidan Hutchinson and company torch the Packers' line in 2025.