Latest NFL contract details make Packers' decision to sign big-ticket free agent even more questionable

The argument for the difference

The Packers see Aaron Banks as a better fit, but their performances on the field don't justify such a huge contract discrepancy.

Last season, for example, Jenkins allowed 17 total pressures in 495 pass block snaps—one pressure each 29.11 snaps. Aaron Banks allowed 25 pressures in 471 pass block snaps, one each 18.84 plays. It's not an outlier either. Excluding his failed experience as a left tackle, Jenkins has had a better pass block efficiency throughout his NFL career.

For Jenkins, there's a concern about his health. That's fair, because he missed 23 regular season games in four years. But overall, both have missed significant time—Banks suffered an MCL injury in December. Overall, Jenkins has played 2,205 offensive snaps in the NFL, while Banks has played 2,586. It's not an insignificant difference, but maybe not enough to justify the price.

Another potential reason for the Packers would be Banks' run-block ability. According to PFF, though, Jenkins is better at it too—74.3 vs. 68.9 in run-block grade last season, and that was Banks' career high.

Teven Jenkins would also offer more positional versatility. Aaron Banks has been almost exclusively a left guard—he has only five snaps at other positions in the NFL, all of them at right guard. Meanwhile, Jenkins has had 157 snaps at LT, 1,193 at LG, 852 at RG, and one as a sixth offensive lineman.

Another point where Teven Jenkins could be more appealing is the prospect of extracting more out of him. Aaron Banks did what he did for a well-coached team, the San Francisco 49ers under Kyle Shanahan. Jenkins spent his rookie contract on the Chicago Bears playing under multiple head coaches and offensive coordinators, all failed experiences, and with quarterbacks with a strong trend to hold the ball too long in Justin Fields and Caleb Williams, and that stresses an offensive lineman.

It's a matter of what you can do with the money

This is not necessarily a direct comparison between Aaron Banks and Teven Jenkins. It's completely reasonable to prefer Banks and to expect him to play better. It's ok to think he's a better scheme fit.

But is it enough to explain such a huge difference in price? With the extra $16.2 million, the Packers could have signed edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo, their top target at the edge defender position. Or maybe they could have also re-signed Josh Myers, who will make $2 million in base value from the New York Jets.

Based on the Packers' mid-term financial situation, it's fair to say that the Packers had one big bet to make in free agency. They decided it was going to be Aaron Banks. It's a questionable decision, even if Brian Gutekunst has the benefit of the doubt evaluating offensive linemen.