It turns out all that talk about Caleb Banks slipping in the NFL Draft was just that. Banks ended up in the range where most predicted he would after his excellent Senior Bowl performance, going to the Minnesota Vikings with the 18th overall pick.
Banks was the first defensive tackle taken in this year's draft, and he's got some fans, including ESPN's Booger McFarland, a former first-round defensive tackle himself.
Caleb Banks is a FREAKISH athlete with the potential to transform the interior of that Vikings defense 🦍 pic.twitter.com/CJ09cdcOwz
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 24, 2026
“A long defensive tackle,” McFarland said. “At his best, Mel (Kiper Jr.), I think he’s got Chris Jones-like potential on the inside. As a rusher and a run-defender, he can be dominant. He went down to the Senior Bowl, and he showed up and he showed out. Now, the problem is going to be from a medical standpoint, if you’re Minnesota, the foot injury. They had to check the foot out because a big man and a foot injury usually doesn’t get better, but when he’s healthy, he’s one of the best defensive lineman that we’ve seen.”
Chris Jones-like potential is a serious statement and a lot for Banks to live up to.
The Minnesota Vikings grab Caleb Banks with 18th pick
Minnesota was one of the teams that made sense for Banks. The Vikings have a major need for reinforcements on an aging defensive line and in a draft where there wasn't a consensus top defensive tackle, Banks was in the mix and has the most upside of anyone at the position.
As Booger points out, the upside to Banks is high, and it seems like a perfect match for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who will give Banks the kind of tough love that he will need to thrive in the league.
There will be detractors to this pick. Banks was excellent in 2024 when he had 21 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Banks was expected to be a major piece of an improved Gators team in 2025, but he injured his foot in training camp and was never right for the season. He suffered another foot injury during the NFL Combine, but received a clean bill of health this week and should be ready to go soon.
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