Leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, nearly every single mock draft had the Minnesota Vikings taking a safety, specifically Oregon's Dillon Thieneman, as safety was a major need for this defense. Well, Minnesota would go after a position of need, but instead went for a defensive tackle, taking Florida's Caleb Banks. Banks is a high-ceiling prospect who has tremendous upside in this defense, but does he have a shot at winning a major award in 2026?
Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Dan Graziano, Pamela Maldonado, and Jordan Reid at ESPN got together and put together a 2026 NFL rookies guide, gave their rankings on the best chances to win major awards, and placed Banks as the fourth-best chance to win Defensive Rookie of the Year:
Banks enters the season with
a starting opportunity on Minnesota's defensive line, and he has the size to become an immediate interior disruptor. Although his college production was inconsistent, his pass-rush upside was considered among the best of the interior defensive linemen in his class.
Coordinator Brian Flores can also move the No. 18 pick around his multiple-front defense to create favorable matchups. Banks' first-round pedigree and disruptive ability give him a reasonable path to win this award.
Banks is a very sneaky candidate to win the award, should he stay healthy for all 17 games this season. He is going to get the lion's share of snaps inside, and in this Brian Flores defense that loves to use stunts galore along a multiple-front defense, Banks could wreak havoc this season.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Could Vikings DL Caleb Banks win the Rookie of the Year in 2026?
