The Minnesota Vikings have made their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and with that selection, they have added to the front line on defense with a bit of a surprise pick
Caleb Banks
Date of Birth: 12 March 2003 (23 years old)
College: University of Florida
Drafted: First round, #18 overall
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 325 pounds
With the 18th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings have selected defensive lineman Caleb Banks from the University of Florida.
Banks is a big, big man, measuring in at 6’6” and
325 pounds. He missed most of the 2025 season because of a foot injury he suffered in practice while preparing for the season. He attempted to play through the injury but was unable to, though he did come back for the final two games of the season. He then re-injured the foot at the Scouting Combine, an injury that required surgery and will sideline him until June. He did have a very good 2024 season for the Gators, featuring 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss, along with six quarterback hits.
Banks has very good movement skills for a player of his size, which will allow Brian Flores to deploy him from a wide range of fronts and alignments. He’s comfortable moving laterally or moving into the backfield. He’s going to have some work to do as far as technique is concerned, but if there’s anyone who can get that work done, it’s going to be Brian Flores and company.
Yes, the injury history with Banks is a bit of a concern, but he appears to be exactly the kind of player the Vikings need in the middle of their defensive front. This is the sort of pick that, if it hits the way it’s capable of hitting, is going to take this Minnesota defense to a completely different level than what we’ve seen before.
Welcome to Minnesota, Caleb Banks!
