Vikings use first-round pick on Florida DT Caleb Banks, who broke his foot before the combine
The Vikings bet on Banks’ rare size and pass-rush upside despite medical concerns after he missed most of last season.
- On Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings selected Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, choosing the 6-foot-6, 327-pound prospect despite his recent foot injury.
- Defensive tackle became a priority after the Vikings released veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave for salary cap savings, leading the team to gamble on Banks' potential.
- Banks, 23, underwent surgery last month for a broken bone in his foot sustained at the NFL Combine; Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski expressed confidence the prospect will be cleared by June.
- Following the first-round selection, the Vikings hold three picks on Friday night—the 49th overall selection and picks 82 and 97 in the third round—with the draft concluding Saturday.
- Brzezinski prioritized long-term value over immediate need, stating, "He's got all the potential, and I think together with his commitment and the resources and the coaching we have, it's going to give him the best chance to be successful.
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49 Articles
Echo Press
Why the Vikings believe Caleb Banks is worth the risk
EAGAN, Minn. — The genuine excitement that the Minnesota Vikings had about selecting rookie defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the No.18 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft was completely antithetical to the instant reaction from some on social media. There might not have been a more polarizing prospect than Banks selected in the first round. Not that the Vikings themselves ever wavered when they were on the clock. They were convicted in their evaluation …
Vikings Slammed for Caleb Banks Pick in the NFL Draft
The Minnesota Vikings had the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, and they used it to officially select defensive tackle Caleb Banks of the Florida Gators.Banks was out for nearly the full 2025-26 season in Florida but had a strong showing in 2024, clocking 21 tackles and 4.5 sacks, according to ESPN research. He’s 6-foot-6 and 327-pounds, so he also has a strong build on his side.Banks’ official NFL profile is glowing …
Scoggins: So much for the Vikings playing it safe in Rob Brzezinski’s first draft
For a team that needs a new general manager in part due to its draft failures, selecting injury-prone defensive lineman Caleb Banks over safety Dillon Thieneman feels like rolling the dice.
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