This is exactly what Florida fans were hoping for. After missing most of last season due to an injury, former star Gators defensive tackle Caleb Banks could be going inside the top 32 on Thursday night. ESPN's Pete Thamel was able to relay some important health information when it came to Banks heading into the NFL Draft. All signs point to him being available for "football activities in early June."
A CT scan showed the surgically-repaired bone in his left foot to be all good in time for training camp.
NEWS: NFL teams received a letter today about Caleb Banks as he recovers from a surgically repaired bone in his left foot. Per ESPN sources, the letter states that after a CT scan on Tuesday that Banks is “on pace to be fully cleared for full football activities in early June.” pic.twitter.com/FlrO8obUAw
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 22, 2026
This injury Banks suffered was sustained during the NFL Scouting Combine. It prevented him from being able to take part in Florida's pro day. Had Banks have come out of Indianapolis with a clean bill of health, he would probably be a lock to go in the first round. Hail Florida Hail's Benjamin Henderson outlined a few potential landing spots for Banks earlier in the week. Will he go to one of these teams?
Banks must overcome a recent downtick in some mock draft projections to make it back into the first.
Florida DT Caleb Banks has the clean bill of health to go in the first round
Over on NFL Mock Draft Database, Banks has a second-round grade as their No. 41 overall prospect. In recent NFL mock drafts, Banks has even gone as high as No. 14 to the Baltimore Ravens. He has typically come off the board in the mid-to-late 20s. What that means for Banks is he is likely going to a playoff-caliber team, assuming he does hear his name called at some point on Thursday evening...
While he does not have a consensus mock, teams like the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs could be in line to take him. Chicago at No. 25, Houston at No. 28, and Kansas City at No. 29 by way of a trade with the Los Angeles Rams seem to make the most sense. Because the injury was concerning at least to some, maybe it is worth it to dangle the fifth-year option with him?
Right now, the upside seems to be too good for Banks to not hear his name called on Thursday night. Had the medicals not come back as promising, he may have very well been a second-round pick. Given that his doctor gave him a positive return time in early June, that could be more than enough for Banks to link up with a winning franchise before the end of the first night of the draft in Pittsburgh.
Assuming there are no setbacks in his rehab, we should see Banks ready to rock later on this summer.
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