The NFL Draft has begun! Check back here for updated player and scheme analysis for each pick.
Vikings Draft Picks:
- 1st round, 18th overall: Caleb Banks, DT
Caleb Banks, DT
With the 18th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Caleb Banks!
The first pick of Rob Brzezinski’s drafting career couldn’t have been a more polarizing selection. At 18th overall, the Vikings selected Caleb Banks, Defensive Tackle from the University of Florida. Initial reactions from Vikings fans have been mixed, with many on the negative side. But why?
Banks does come with major red flags, but also has a ceiling that can make this pick a home run. The Vikings had a need at IDL, and Banks can become an instant impact player this upcoming season.
Overview
Caleb Banks started his college career at the University of Louisville, where he was a Cardinal for two years, including being redshirted his Freshman year. In 2023, Banks transferred to the University of Florida, where he played three seasons and accumulating:
- 46 tackles
- 5.5 sacks
- 1 forced fumble
- 1 pass deflection
These stats aren’t eye-popping, and that’s due to multiple factors, including Banks’ sample. In his collegiate career, he only played in a total of 34 games. Also, playing on the interior d-line does not always stuff the stat sheet. IDLs are often tasked with clogging lanes and taking up space for the middle level of the defense to fly around and make plays. This is where Banks’ difference making will mostly be seen.
Banks is a humungous human, standing just over 6’6″, and weighing nearly 330 Ibs. Not only is he huge, but he is also a freak athlete. At the Combine, he ran a 5.04 40, with a 10 yard split at 1.76. For a man of his size, this speed and quickness is very good, and his first step is a big strength in his game.
Banks’ skill is that of a power player, who uses his size and strength to overpower the o-linemen assigned with blocking him. Although he did not participate in the bench press at the combine, his film showcases the strength he plays with.
The biggest red flag on his profile is his injury history. Since 2024, Banks has undergone three surgeries on just his left foot. This includes the most recent procedure in March, just after he broke his foot again at the Combine, in what he called a freak incident.
For a man his size, recurring foot injuries can be a huge risk to take on. Historically, it has been more likely than not that the foot injuries may negatively impact Banks’ career.
On Thursday night, Kevin O’Connell mentioned that Banks’ most recent surgery cleaned everything up and is on track to participate starting in on-field activities in late summer. He even went as far to say that the previous surgeries were botched in his end of night press conference.
In the 48 hours leading up to Round 1, many reporters reported a positive update on Banks’ foot injury and the expectation of when he would be ready to participate in football activities:
Obviously, this history is a major red flag that cannot be ignored. However, if the Vikings and the staff do believe that his foot injury history is more behind him, then this pick can be a difference maker for the defense.
Pros:
- Elite size, length and physical traits
- 35″ arms with a 7ft wingspan
- Good short-area burst and quickness
- Good change of direction skills, flashes of strong spin move
- High-level strength to dictate blockers and separate at point of engagement
- Powerful hands and punch, with ability to control the action
- Good rush and disengagement moves, especially when clubbing/slapping lineman
- Combines power well with swims and arm over moves to close a hole/gap
Cons:
- Foot injury concerns, only played three games in 2025
- Needs to develop as a better tackler, missed tackle rate of 25%
- Plays with high leverage occasionally, giving double teams an advantage
- Has plays where he allows lineman to get in tight, needs to play with size & length at all times
- Can get knocked back/off his path with some blocks, better balance is needed for a man his size
- Raw technique, needs to have strong coaching to clean it up and develop
Scheme Fit
Caleb Banks comes in and can be plugged in at the 4i & 5-techniques:
The same spot that Jonathan Allen was brought in to occupy last season. In BFlo’s odd front looks, Banks will force offenses to decide to assign a guard to block him, or double team him depending on his alignment.
What makes Banks so intriguing is his power and first step. He can be viewed as a bit of a unicorn, as he is a huge man with a quick first step, forcing offensive linemen to cover their gap quickly without getting overpowered.
When he lines up in a 5-technique, outside shoulder of a OT, he has the burst to get off the ball quickly, and can translate it to strength and power in a quick manner. Tackles need to be able to cover their corner and edge, but also anchor without getting driven back. Banks will also have opportunities to rush more inside of the OT, forcing the OT to get hands on and the guard picks him up.
When lined up as a 4i-technique, inside shoulder of a OT, Banks has the first step agility to shoot the gap between the OT & OG to cause chaos. Banks can be an immediate gap stuffer, and his size and strength makes the o-lines job of getting double teams to the second level much more difficult.
Pass rushers, like Greenard, AVG, and Turner will all welcome Banks, as he will make their job much easier. If Banks can stay healthy, he immediately gives the pass rushers an advantage, especially when turning the corner to get home to a QB.
The Vikings have been on the lookout for a power IDL for the last few seasons, and Banks fits the mold of what they need to a tee. While he is a raw player in terms of skill and technique, his power and strength will immediately translate and provide an instant boost to the DL unit, even if the numbers don’t show up on the stat sheet.
He can be effective on run and passing downs, and has the type of build and skill that should not be schemed off of the field. He has some conditioning concerns, but joining a NFL team should help get that corrected. He has the opportunity to be an every down player in terms of skill, filling a much needed gap on the defense.
At the Senior Bowl, he showcased his raw strength and power all over the field, and had many great reps in one-on-one pass rushing drills:
I understand the pessimistic reactions by fans for this pick, and I even had a similar initial reaction. I was a fan of Banks throughout the early pre-draft process, and followed the herd of dropping him on my board with the additional surgery in March.
However, he has the potential to be a difference maker, and if the injuries were not present, he would have more than likely been a top-10 pick this year. It’s not every day you find a player of Banks’ stature half way through the first round in a weaker draft class, and if he stays healthy he can become a mismatch monster in the NFL.
That’s the question that remains to be answered: will he stay healthy? If the team doctors and officials believe his most recent procedure cleaned everything up and will allow him to gain strength and trust in his foot, then this can be the missing piece in BFlo’s defense.
His recovery now moves to Tyler Williams, VP of Player Health. Banks isn’t expected to be ready for football activities until the summer, and the next few months will be crucial as he continues recovering and learning the playbook.
It will be a top storyline for the next few months, and I’m sure KOC & the staff will get many questions in the build up to Training Camp on Banks’ healthy and recovery.
If healthy, Banks can be a wrecker on the d-line and an immediate impact type of player. I’m excited to see the different games and stunts that BFlo can use with Banks, Redmond, and the rest of the pass rush unit.
Final Thoughts
Grade: B-
I was higher on Banks before the re-injury at the Combine. If he can fully recover and make this a thing of the past, then this can be a high reward type of pick. Since the injury concerns are very real, it’s a higher risk pick, and the grade will get knocked down slightly. Initially, I was hoping to get him at pick 49, but was he going to be there? We will never know. The Vikings taking a chance on him at 18 shows that they believed others may have been high on Banks, too.
Check back later for further analysis and breakdowns of the newest Minnesota Vikings!
Thank you for taking the time to read my latest article! If you enjoyed the read, please support the blog by liking and commenting below. Sharing with your friends and family would go a long way as we continue to build this community. And as always, SKOL!
Skol To Go 
Share your thoughts