![Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) causes a fumble as he strips the ball from LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The Gators defeated the Tigers 27-16. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_134,w_1996,h_1122/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01jt62qax06d35ymj6ht.jpg "Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) causes a fumble as he strips the ball from LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The Gators defeated the Tigers 27-16. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
With the 2025 NFL Draft in the books, plenty of mock draft experts have been already looking ahead to who the potential stars for 2026 may be. After having no one drafted in the first three rounds in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Florida Gators have the potential to land multiple players in the first round in 2026.
Caleb Banks, in particular, seems to be getting the most love as a potential first-round pick, and a new ESPN mock draft has continued that love.
Florida's Caleb Banks could be a first-round pick in 2026
We noted earlier this week how CBS Sports is super high on Banks and had him listed as the 4th overall pick in the 2026 draft. ESPN isn't quite as high on Banks but still believes he has a great shot at being drafted in the first round.
Jordan Reid complied the list, and of Banks, he said:
"(The Bengals) need someone with Banks' great 6-6, 325-pound size in the middle of the line. He showed flashes last season, and if he can continue to progress in 2025 and increase his sack total (4.5), he has the traits to be a top-20 pick."
Banks was productive enough throughout the 2024 season, but it was his game against LSU and Ole Miss where he had his two best games as a Gator. He was credited with nine total pressures in the LSU game and another six during the Ole Miss game, both wins for Florida.
He ended up getting hurt against FSU, and he sat out of the Gasparilla Bowl.
There was some belief Banks might try to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, but he opted to come back to Gainesville for one more season to try and boost his draft stock, and if he continues the level of play he showed to close out the 2024 season into 2025, he might be able to achieve these 1st round projections.