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What Makes MN Vikings Draft Pick Caleb Banks So Polarizing?
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- What Makes MN Vikings Draft Pick Caleb Banks So Polarizing?
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. It wasn't the most shocking selection of day one , but when Roger Goodell read off the Minnesota Vikings ' selection at No. 18 overall, nobody expected him to say, "Caleb Banks, Florida."
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But that's exactly what happened. After months of speculation tying the Vikings to Oregon safety, Dillon Thieneman, Brian Flores passed on a kid who many crowned as " Harrison Smith Lite", and selected a guy that NOBODY had tied to Minnesota in the first round.
What to think of Minnesota Vikings' surprise first round draft pick
Most of the online animosity surrounding the Banks pick stems from his left foot, which has been surgically repaired at least twice in the past 10 months. His first came in September 2025, after he broke the foot at Gators training camp.
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That injury and resulting surgery limited Banks to just three games played last season. But in February, some sort of "freak accident", as Banks describes it, resulted in a fracture of his fourth metatarsal and another foot surgery (March, 2026).
The Minnesota Vikings select Caleb Banks..
"I did not have him going in the first round" @PSchrags #PMSDraftSpectacular pic.twitter.com/qLC7BpcNAK— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 24, 2026
"That's probably a bigger reach than Blake Miller."
– @TonyPauline reacts to the Vikings picking Caleb Banks pic.twitter.com/hGPWChRtIp— EssentiallySports (@ES_sportsnews) April 24, 2026
So why did the Minnesota Vikings draft Banks, when there were trades back and other talented players already on the board. Well, the Vikings say he will be ready for full workouts by June. So they felt good about his medicals, despite his recent history.
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And if your first impression of the 23-year-old was his combine measurements, you're probably a lot higher than others on this pick.
Caleb Banks was one of a few FREAKS in this class
At 6'6″, 327 pounds , Caleb Banks is an absolute freak athlete. Even for an SEC interior defensive lineman, he towered over most of big men around him (and blocking him), while at Florida.
Banks' hands are MASSIVE, at 10 7/8 inches, and this kid could raid the cookie jar from across the kitchen, with arms that are 35 inches long. However, he runs and moves more like an EDGE rusher or tight end. He jumped 32 inches and ran a 5.04 40-yard dash (1.76 10-yard split) and a 9'6″ broad jump.
🚨🚨INSANE🚨🚨
Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks just ran a 5.05u 40-yard dash at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds at the #NFL combine.
😱😱😱
The big man was MOVING.
pic.twitter.com/PGiwoI9MYm— MLFootball (@MLFootball) February 26, 2026
Florida DT Caleb Banks CRUSHED his measurements today at the combine 😳
(via @TampaBayTre ) pic.twitter.com/pakxVzvZTj— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) February 26, 2026
The only interior defensive lineman in this year's class with a higher combine grade than Banks's 6.37 was Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), who is one of the best players available going into day two. The only other DT drafted after Banks was Peter Woods (Clemson). His combine grade was .01 lower than Banks, at 6.36.
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When you turn on Caleb Banks' highlights at Florida, you get an even better idea of what Brian Flores fell in love with. Not only does Banks stand out before the snap, just due to his massive size, but his ability to stuff the run and rush the passer is a rare combination, at the position.
Obviously, the combination of Banks' tape and projected upside is what made the Minnesota Vikings fall in love with the Detroit, Michigan native. But another reason this is a risky pick is due to lack of college production and consistency.
I wish he had another full season of tape, but Caleb Banks is my DT1. Looked healthy vs. Tennessee & assuming he clears medicals I'd be comfortable taking him top 10.
Haven't seen many college DL with more powerful hands pic.twitter.com/EISYSLB7DF— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) December 5, 2025
Vikings select Florida DT Caleb Banks with the No. 18 pick
Minnesota just got a MONSTER in the trenches 💪 pic.twitter.com/0mLXq2uxe7— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 24, 2026
What the college numbers say about Caleb Banks
He was in college for five years, two at Louisville and three at Florida, yet never reached 1000 collegiate snaps on defense, according to PFF . And his lack of consistency shows up in his PFF grades too. In his three games last season, Banks posted a cumulative 68.8 PFF grade.
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In 2024, his most productive college season, Caleb posted 4 sacks and just 12 tackles, but he pressured the QB 29 times and posted a 73.0 PFF grade. All of those metrics were career-highs.
However, while Banks' pass rush and rush defense grades are both above average, his tackle grades the past two seasons at Florida (25.2 and 40.4) are concerning, to say the least.
| Year |
Gms |
Snaps |
Tck |
Sk |
Pr |
PFF |
PFF |
PFF |
PFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
3 |
96 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
68.8 |
64.2 |
68.5 |
25.2 |
| 2024 |
14 |
422 |
12 |
4 |
29 |
73.0 |
73.2 |
67.9 |
40.4 |
| 2023 |
13 |
364 |
9 |
2 |
24 |
69.8 |
74.2 |
66.6 |
72.3 |
Caleb Banks was drafted in round 1 with pick 18 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.83 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 39 out of 2278 DT from 1987 to 2026. https://t.co/iD4zSLK19P pic.twitter.com/J2aYESpYVL
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 24, 2026
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