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Caleb Banks has not played a regular-season snap for the Minnesota Vikings, but his draft value is already being revisited.
In a Sports Illustrated 2026 NFL Draft redo published before training camp, Justin Melo had Banks falling to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 29 overall. The Vikings originally selected the Florida defensive tackle at No. 18, betting on his rare size, power and upside despite an injury history that complicated his pre-draft evaluation.
Melo sent Banks to Kansas City in place of Peter Woods, writing that the Chiefs prioritized defensive tackle in the original draft but could have landed a better prospect in Banks. He described Banks as a “high-risk, high-reward prospect” and noted that playing next to Chris Jones would have been an ideal environment for the rookie to develop.
For Minnesota, the redo reflects the same tension that surrounded Banks throughout the draft process.
His talent was never difficult to identify. At 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Banks has the frame and physical tools teams covet in an interior defender. When healthy and consistent, he has the ability to disrupt blocking schemes, collapse pockets and give the Vikings another young building block for Brian Flores’ defense.
The concern has been availability. Banks twice broke his left foot in the past year, an injury that cost him most of the 2025 season at Florida and required surgery after the NFL scouting combine in March. He later sent a letter to NFL teams identifying the injury as a broken fourth metatarsal and projecting that he would resume football activities in June.
That context explains why a redraft can view Banks two ways. The Vikings may have taken on more risk than some teams preferred at No. 18, but SI’s redo still kept him in the first round. That matters.
Minnesota drafted Banks for what he can become, not just what he was able to show during an injury-shortened final college season. Training camp will provide the first real indication of whether that upside is ready to surface quickly.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Where does Vikings' Caleb Banks land in 2026 NFL Draft redo?
Continue reading...
In a Sports Illustrated 2026 NFL Draft redo published before training camp, Justin Melo had Banks falling to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 29 overall. The Vikings originally selected the Florida defensive tackle at No. 18, betting on his rare size, power and upside despite an injury history that complicated his pre-draft evaluation.
Melo sent Banks to Kansas City in place of Peter Woods, writing that the Chiefs prioritized defensive tackle in the original draft but could have landed a better prospect in Banks. He described Banks as a “high-risk, high-reward prospect” and noted that playing next to Chris Jones would have been an ideal environment for the rookie to develop.
For Minnesota, the redo reflects the same tension that surrounded Banks throughout the draft process.
His talent was never difficult to identify. At 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Banks has the frame and physical tools teams covet in an interior defender. When healthy and consistent, he has the ability to disrupt blocking schemes, collapse pockets and give the Vikings another young building block for Brian Flores’ defense.
The concern has been availability. Banks twice broke his left foot in the past year, an injury that cost him most of the 2025 season at Florida and required surgery after the NFL scouting combine in March. He later sent a letter to NFL teams identifying the injury as a broken fourth metatarsal and projecting that he would resume football activities in June.
That context explains why a redraft can view Banks two ways. The Vikings may have taken on more risk than some teams preferred at No. 18, but SI’s redo still kept him in the first round. That matters.
Minnesota drafted Banks for what he can become, not just what he was able to show during an injury-shortened final college season. Training camp will provide the first real indication of whether that upside is ready to surface quickly.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Where does Vikings' Caleb Banks land in 2026 NFL Draft redo?
Continue reading...
