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Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks missed the opportunity to improve his NFL Draft stock in 2025 due to a foot injury that eventually required surgery. Between his performance at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine, Banks is making the most of his remaining chances to contend for a top draft selection, including the ninth overall pick owned by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The NFL Scouting Combine offers more value for members of the media than teams. Most organizations enter the week with their preliminary big boards set and some prior indications of each prospect's athletic profile and measurables. Teams mostly focus on the medical checks and interviews conducted in Indianapolis.
However, that doesn’t mean analysts and football personnel fail to appreciate when a prospect dominates the process. Banks and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles took over the news cycle on Thursday with historic performances.
Banks’ good day started with his weigh-in process. Standing 6'6 1/4", 327 lbs. with 35-inch arms, 10 7/8-inch hands and an 85 3/4-inch wingspan, Banks is one of the largest defensive tackles to attend the Combine since 1999. According to Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema, Banks ranks in the 89th percentile or higher in all of those categories, including the 99th percentile for wingspan.
Banks showcased his explosiveness in the athletic testing portion of the day. He ran a 5.04 40-yard dash with a 1.76 ten-yard split. For comparison, former Pro Bowlers Jurrell Casey and Gerald McCoy also ran 5.04 40-yard dashes, but they weighed only 300 lbs. and 295 lbs., respectively. Banks also posted a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9'6" broad jump. That's the same vertical as Aaron Donald and Jordan Davis and the same broad jump as McCoy.
Banks looked smooth and moved well during the on-field portion of the Combine. Most players his size look tight and lumbering when asked to perform the wave drill and other movement exercises. Banks avoided those pitfalls, which tripped up fellow top interior defensive line prospects Lee Hunter and Kayden McDonald during their workouts.
Banks is an exceptional athlete for his size. The biggest concern with his profile, outside of the recent foot injury, is his high pad level, which makes it surprisingly easy for offensive linemen to dig him out in the run game. If Banks displays the flexibility to sink his hips and play lower against the run, he could have a serious case to be a top ten prospect in the class.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: NFL Combine: Florida’s Caleb Banks makes case for early draft pick
Continue reading...
The NFL Scouting Combine offers more value for members of the media than teams. Most organizations enter the week with their preliminary big boards set and some prior indications of each prospect's athletic profile and measurables. Teams mostly focus on the medical checks and interviews conducted in Indianapolis.
However, that doesn’t mean analysts and football personnel fail to appreciate when a prospect dominates the process. Banks and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles took over the news cycle on Thursday with historic performances.
Banks’ good day started with his weigh-in process. Standing 6'6 1/4", 327 lbs. with 35-inch arms, 10 7/8-inch hands and an 85 3/4-inch wingspan, Banks is one of the largest defensive tackles to attend the Combine since 1999. According to Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema, Banks ranks in the 89th percentile or higher in all of those categories, including the 99th percentile for wingspan.
Banks showcased his explosiveness in the athletic testing portion of the day. He ran a 5.04 40-yard dash with a 1.76 ten-yard split. For comparison, former Pro Bowlers Jurrell Casey and Gerald McCoy also ran 5.04 40-yard dashes, but they weighed only 300 lbs. and 295 lbs., respectively. Banks also posted a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9'6" broad jump. That's the same vertical as Aaron Donald and Jordan Davis and the same broad jump as McCoy.
Banks looked smooth and moved well during the on-field portion of the Combine. Most players his size look tight and lumbering when asked to perform the wave drill and other movement exercises. Banks avoided those pitfalls, which tripped up fellow top interior defensive line prospects Lee Hunter and Kayden McDonald during their workouts.
Banks is an exceptional athlete for his size. The biggest concern with his profile, outside of the recent foot injury, is his high pad level, which makes it surprisingly easy for offensive linemen to dig him out in the run game. If Banks displays the flexibility to sink his hips and play lower against the run, he could have a serious case to be a top ten prospect in the class.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: NFL Combine: Florida’s Caleb Banks makes case for early draft pick
Continue reading...
