Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks has already completed pre-draft visits with the Chiefs, Ravens, and Cardinals, per Zach Goodall of 247 Sports. Remaining on the docket are the Lions, Titans, Broncos, Falcons, and Chargers.
The 23-year-old flew up draft boards after an impressive performance at the Combine, which featured a 5.04-second 40-yard dash and a 9-foot-6 broad jump at 327 pounds. The hype around Banks cooled after a pre-draft visit revealed a foot fracture suffered the night before he took the field in Indianapolis. Testing well on a broken foot is impressive, but after Banks missed most of the 2025 season due to a foot injury, teams are understandably wary of using a top pick on him. Banks underwent surgery in mid-March and is expected to miss some of his first NFL offseason program.
Medical concerns are almost certainly the driver behind his busy schedule. Teams will need to be comfortable with the state of his foot, especially given the multiple injuries.
But as far as talent and long-term upside goes, Banks is up there with the top defensive prospects in the draft. He checks every physical box with a 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame with 35-inch arms. His power and athleticism overwhelmed most college offensive linemen and led to constant disruption in the trenches. Banks will need to shore up his technique in the NFL, where he will not be as much of a size outlier, but he has all the tools to succeed.
It remains to be seen if Banks’ injury will drop him out of the first round. Teams are certainly interested, and it only takes one to be comfortable enough with his foot to lock him down as early as possible.
‘…The hype around Banks cooled after a pre-draft visit revealed a foot fracture suffered the night before he took the field in Indianapolis. ….’
Glad the NFL & NFLPA cares about player safety. What a joke that ‘policy’ is.
Nearly every prospect in this draft is a gamble. Banks seems like a worthwhile dart throw for someone in the 1st just because the potential is enormous. If he gets to the 2nd round, I’m running the card in. I think he’s a top 20 player.
It wouldn’t shock me if he’s the best player from this draft. It wouldn’t shock me if health derails his career completely. But man, not many players look like his best.
Health and consistency will be the big factors. I agree that his ceiling is up there with the top guys. Could be an all-pro in 5 years, could be washed out of the league. I think the former is more likely with him.
I disagree. This draft is completely loaded
Only in the sense that every draft has a lot of good players in it. This is not a strong draft, especially not in clean prospects with star potential at the top.
Downs, Styles, Reese, Bailey, Delane, McCoy, Love are all going to be insane
And Fernando Mendoza has 99 overall potential to be the next great one
Only thing this class is lacking is a clear cut top LT
All very good prospects, but that’s not a lot of guys you just named, and there are a few red flags in there.
If 8 players make a strong class, I guess there’s never been a bad class in history. Also, I’m willing to bet one of those guys doesn’t hit. That’s just mathematical odds.
Those are just the clear cut difference makers and i didn’t even list any of the wr or dt, which every class has a few elite players at
This is one of the best classes ive seen
Of the guys you named, though, none would have been top 10 picks in 2021 or 2024.
Props for going against the consensus–genuinely, because too many people just go along with the industry–but I have to disagree. The top end talent doesn’t do much more for me than some second round talent. An unfortunate year for my team to have the #2 pick. Yes, there will be good picks, and the WR class could challenge as one of the best we’ve seen in a long time, but QB, RB, TE, and interior OL leave a lot to be desired. Defense is pretty strong, although I don’t like the depth of the edge class as much as others.
You gotta be kidding me?
2024 had 2.5 QBs, Bowers and no one else
2021 was also top heavy (talent) class with a bunch of bust QBs
2026 has some of the best defenders we’ve seen in a while, is definitely deep at TE behind Sadiq (Trigg, Klare), and is really deep at WR to the point where Jordyn Tyson might be the 4th WR taken
You can’t look at those drafts in hindsight, it makes no sense to do that. Also, having those declarations on those drafts are either disingenuous or wrong. 2021 had Sewell and two of the best CBs in the league in Surtain and Horn. Chase, Parsons, and Pitts, not to mention DeVonta Smith, AVT, Etienne, Dickerson, Bolton, Humphrey and on and on.
It’s impossible to make a firm statement on 2024, but that class looks even better.
Look, you don’t need to defend yourself. I go against the narrative all the time, but it’s also important to acknowledge the narrative, and nobody in the industry really loves this class. Also, I already acknowledged WR is deep. It’s the other offensive positions. TE being *deep* is definitely a minority opinion. That’s fine. Nothing wrong with being in the minority. Draft gurus and industry people are wrong all the time.
Ya ill take Styles, Reese, Downs, McCoy, Mendoza and Love over most of those guys
Titans clearly would love him to be there in 2nd. Saleh wants all the DTs