The 49ers didn’t seem likely to re-sign Aaron Banks, and a recent contract prediction all but guarantees the pending free agent departs.
The San Francisco 49ers don’t typically view guards as a premium position.
Despite using a third-round draft pick on right guard Dominick Puni in 2024, the Niners have largely patchworked this spot on their roster aside from the 2021 Round 2 selection of left guard Aaron Banks, who spent his rookie year as a reserve before becoming a full-time starter a year later.
Now, poised to hit the free-agent market for the first time in his career this offseason, Banks’ future is unclear.
However, if there’s one thing that can be effectively eliminated from that uncertain future, it’s a return to the Bay Area.
For starters, there’s the reputation head coach Kyle Shanahan carries of prioritizing tackles and centers for his offensive line. That’s enough right there. And, on top of that, San Francisco brought back Ben Bartch, who filled in for Banks late last season after the latter suffered a season-ending injury.
Now, in light of a recent contract prediction by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Banks is almost assuredly gone.
Aaron Banks’ latest contract prediction suggests 49ers won’t re-sign him
In light of the NFL salary cap’s significant jump, Pelissero predicts a number of free-agent offensive linemen could command lucrative deals this offseason, including Banks:
“After the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Trey Smith, Banks became one of the top guards — if not the position’s headliner — on the free-agent market. A second-round pick (No. 48 overall) out of Notre Dame in 2021, Banks allowed just one sack on 471 pass-blocking snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus’ charting, while posting a career-high 67.2 PFF grade in 13 starts for the 49ers. Last March, the Panthers signed free-agent guard Robert Hunt to a whopping five-year, $100 million deal. If the market is right, Banks could land a contract in a similar range of $18 million to $20 million per season.”
North of $18 million per year is far beyond what the 49ers’ comfort level would be, especially in light of recent financial restraints general manager John Lynch admitted the team has entering 2025.
With plenty of teams aiming to improve their O-lines (just look at what the Chicago Bears are doing), Banks will have no shortage of suitors.
The Niners just don’t appear to be one of them now.
49ers can benefit from Aaron Banks’ departure
Should Pelissero’s prediction come true, San Francisco would get a compensatory draft pick in return.
Judging by Lynch’s statements at the NFL Scouting Combine, it sounds like the 49ers ultimately will have a net loss of qualifying free agents as they attempt to get both younger and cheaper this offseason.
Related story: Full list of every pending 49ers free agent entering 2025
Over the Cap details how the NFL’s formula for comp picks works, although the league keeps the formula a closely guarded secret.
That said, should Banks’ new contract help him land in the top-five percentile, the Niners would receive a Round 3 comp pick in return for his free-agent departure.
The pick wouldn’t go to San Francisco until 2026, of course. But it would certainly help the team’s efforts toward getting younger and cheaper.
So, in that regard, thank you, Aaron, for still helping the 49ers on your way out the door.
