The Vikings’ 1st-Round Selection Sees Great News Arrive

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The Vikings’ 1st-Round Selection Sees Great News Arrive

The Vikings' 1st-Round Selection Sees Great News Arrive — The Vikings’ 1st-Round Selection Sees Great News Arrive

K. Joudry · Vikings Territory

Fri, Jun 19, 2026 ·

4 min read

The Vikings' 1st-Round Selection is Gaining Ground

"We've received really, really positive reviews," O'Connell clarified.

He then offered a few more thoughts: "Had the offseason continued, he probably would've started to get some work in some of the individual drills and then progress him into some of the team stuff." Banks, in other words, has been taking good steps forward. O'Connell said that things are looking so good that seeing OTAs and minicamp continue would have involved Banks getting into the on-field work rather than just focusing on his recovery.

Nov 23, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) throws the ball over Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

And then there's the football end of things. Banks appears to be understanding everything at a really nice level, which is never a sure thing for a young lad who is moving into one of the most complicated defenses in the NFL.

"I will say this," O'Connell said when pivoting off the health update, "the feedback I'm getting from the coaches — Ryan Nielsen, Flo, Pat Hill — has been phenomenal as far as his ability to hear information, retain it, and apply it. There's a lot of different ways we can be activating Caleb's brain and the above-the-neck challenge of learning Flo's intricate system."

"I'm excited about where he's at, and that's not even talking about the big reason to be excited about Caleb is the physical ability and presence of a guy that big, that strong, that fast in the middle of your defense," O'Connell concluded.

Kevin O'Connell, as is his wont, is laying down a pile of different thoughts within the update.

For starters, Banks is doing well within his recovery. A foot injury robbed him of most of his 2025 season before another foot injury at the NFL Combine further diminished his shot at getting picked super high. Minnesota 's leadership felt like they got great value at No. 18 since a fully healthy Caleb Banks would have gone in the top ten picks of the 2026 NFL Draft (so they say, at least).

There's then the word about Banks offering a strong understanding of the scheme. Crushing the classroom component of things is important. Players can play fast when the brain is quiet; conversely, players play slow when there's too much thinking. Banks would therefore do well to continue showing off his high football aptitude.

Vikings DT Caleb Banls on the draft bigboard in Pittsburgh in 2026

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

But then there's the intersection of those two things — injury and the mental workload — for the Vikings' 1st-Round selection: Caleb Banks needs to get on the field before too long. He can do so by being physically healthy and by having a mental understanding of his job.

O'Connell's answer swerves toward what's missing at the end. Banks is a hulking, incredibly-imposing person. Soon enough, Banks needs to put his physical gifts to work by getting onto the field so that he can create a ruckus at the line of scrimmage.

The best way he can do so is by A) getting healthy and B) mastering the scheme. Per O'Connell, both are well underway. He can then C) capitalize on his massive ability to be a presence from 2026 onward.

Caleb Banks is 23.