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The Vikings drafted Caleb Banks, Defensive Lineman – Florida with the 18st pick in the 2026 draft last night. Nothing really surprising happened, I guess the closest would be Ty Simpson being take at #13 by LA Rams, which “experts” would say was a bit early. Here’s some info on the newest Viking:
KOC on the pick
From Vikings.com
The Vikings added extra length and a whole lotta power to their defensive line group Thursday. Minnesota opened the 2026 NFL Draft by tabbing former Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Banks boasted the longest wingspan at the NFL Combine, measuring a whopping 7 feet, 1.75 inches. That wingspan landed in the 99th percentile for defensive tackles and is the longest recorded at the combine since 1999.
Banks played only three games for the Gators in 2025 and recorded six tackles, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery, missing most of the campaign due to a foot injury that required surgery. He has 34 collegiate games (24 starts) under his belt for Louisville and Florida and totaled 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three passes defensed and a blocked field goal.
NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks and analytics site Pro Football Focus ranked Banks as the second-best defensive lineman in this year’s draft class, while Brooks’ counterpart Daniel Jeremiah listed him No. 3. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Banks fourth in the position group, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., ranked him fifth. Brooks highlighted Banks’ “immense size, freakish talent and heavy hands to dominate opponents at the line of scrimmage.” “While injuries prevented him from putting together a statement-making 2025 campaign, the disruptive flashes at the Senior Bowl matched the performance from his junior season,” Brooks wrote. Banks joins a Minnesota defensive line group that has changed significantly over the past couple of seasons. The Vikings last spring signed veteran free agents Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen but have parted ways with both players; Jalen Redmond and Levi Drake Rodriguez garnered attention last season and are returning to help lead the room that also includes returnees Elijah Williams, Taki Taimani and 2025 draft selection Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
From NFL.com
Overview
Big-framed, long-limbed interior defender whose play needs more polish to consistently match his traits. Banks has a quick first step. He can stun/control single blocks when his hand strikes are timely and accurate, but he needs faster disengagement to increase his tackle count. His high center of gravity allows double teams to generate displacement, so a move to odd-front end could be in his best interest as a run defender. Like a grappler without submission knowledge, Banks is still learning to unlock his physical advantages so he can turn them into sacks. His traits and flashes at the Senior Bowl make him an enticing prospect, but injury concerns are a potential stumbling block for him.
Strengths
- Outstanding physical traits with good short-area quickness.
- Uses long arms and heavy hands to stun blockers.
- Has power to press and separate at the point.
- Controls the action convincingly when he lands first.
- Above-average first-step quickness and pursuit movements.
- Rush traits waiting to be unlocked as a pro.
- Combines step fake and slap to create pressure opportunities.
- Above-average burst to close on the quarterback.
Weaknesses
- Looked heavier and slower in 2025, when he dealt with foot injury.
- Plays with high hips, losing ground to double teams.
- Hands get a little sloppy working from blocker to blocker.
- Takes time to disengage and tackle his gaps.
- Lacks openings and closings as a pass rusher.
- Fatigues and sees his rush effectiveness decline.
Sources Tell Us
“I have tremendous respect for him. He hurt his foot in camp, tried to play through it and then had to have surgery in September. Most guys who are top-50 (prospects) would have just shut it down but he busted his tail to make it back for the last two games. That says something about his character.” — AFC national scout
He obviously has elite size and great athletic ability for a dude that big,. HIs wingspan is absolutely freakish, he’s like an Andean Condor. The draft “experts” mentioned a comparison to Chris Jones of KC, but after going and watching some of the video available on him, he kinda reminds me of Kevin Williams. However, he was likely only available at #18 because of a recurring foot problem. I respect the fact that he came back and played the last couple games of the season last year, he easily could have just packed it in and focused on getting ready for the draft but he wanted to get back on the field. If he is fully recovered he could be a really good pick, but if not fans will riot and burn KOC, Flores, and Bryzsensksklski at the the stake.
We’ll see what the Vikings do tomorrow with their picks, they can still go in different directions, CB, S, C, TE, or even WR, edge (pending a trade of Greenard) or RB, I don’t see them trading back as they already have 9 picks in this draft, especially a bunch of late picks. Also, LOL at this
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2 5ths and 2 7ths. 4 picks for the purple today.
Wild and TWolves later.
I guess the Twins play as well.
All four MN pro sports teams in action today.
Draft defense all night long….and tomorrow as well. Remember the goal is the SB which is not happening this year. Finish low, pick high next year, shed KOC and his piss poor big game coaching. We need to build a shut down defense, Banks will be ready to go in 2027, and we’re getting stew boy Dante Moore in rd 1. 2029 is looking great!
Jakobe Thomas, S, 6’01”, 211 lbs?? ranked #187 at #98?? With Genesis Smith, #82 still on the board???
I don’t understand this pick.
This one feels like a reach.
I have to believe Coach Flo knows what he needs?
Only-est way it makes sense.
That might be how the entire 2026 draft class could be summed up.
Caleb Teirman OT from Northwestern??
6′ 8″, 323lbs, RAS 9.37. Rated about #65 so BPA?
Possible O’Neil replacement next year and a swing tackle this year.
We already singed one of those.
Saw some analysts predicting a move to guard because of his short arms.
A 6′ 8″ guard in front of a 5′ 10″ QB?
Not a lot of midget linemen in the draft. Haha.
Bryce Lance?
An OC?
Minn on the clock X2.
Mike Washington, RB 6’11”, 9.88 RAS?
6’11”????
6’1, dumb fingers.
Bummer, Ted Hurst to the Bucs
We had our chance at him, braintrust decided to go elsewhere. #sigh
NT was a bigger need than WR I think. Choosing NT1 over WR 3/4 makes sense. If Hurst develops he could be really good though.
Oline baby, oline.
Connor Lew or Sam Hecht?
Brian Parker II, more athletic than either of them with a 9.13 RAS.
Maybe Brian Parker?
Can we shift to the other side of the ball now?
I tried to suggest it, now 0-3 this draft.
I know you tried. Not your fault, but i will find a scapegoat
Seems like a Flores dominated draft.
Smaller than Caleb at 6′ 2″, 322 lbs.
Domonique Orange, nicknamed “Big Citrus”, is the ideal nose tackle prototype. He’s 6’2″, 328 pounds, with near-34″ levers for arms. He can play with natural leverage and attack opposing linemen with power in the pass game, and he can latch, anchor, and limit displacement against run blocks.
Naturally, he’s not an elite disruptor 1-on-1, but Orange makes his money by being an immovable mass at the fulcrum. He can two-gap while stationary or while on the move against zone blocks, he can stack and shed, and he has surprising pursuit range and a relentless motor. For odd and hybrid-front schemes, Orange can be a definite force multiplier and early-down gap enforcer.
He frees up other players to make plays, and has measured playmaking value of his own.
Seems like another reach with Big Citrus?
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mockdraft had him at #70 so again, it depends on who you listen to.
I don’t think this was a reach. Third round was his range i believe.
3rd round about the place he was drafted
Another DT, Big Citrus out of Iowa St.
Big Citrus!! Got a NT!!
Vikings are ‘On The Clock’.
RB Mike Washington?
WR Ted Hurst??
I am 0 – 2 so far this draft.
So, did we draft some more dudes?
I was a bit preoccupied with my soccer team winning their 3rd in 4 games, 3:0 at home, thus making a big step towards avoiding relegation. Which is definitely f*cking nice.
LB Golday.
Traded Greenard.
Not much to get excited about.
So the rumors were true about Greenard being traded to the Eagles. Doesn’t sound like we got enough back, but I’m no expert.
Two 3rd rounders. One this year one next year.
His contract was the biggest issue.
OK, that makes sense.
So they did trade Grenade to the poop eaters. Rob is doing his thing, it seems.
This team is a joke.
Draft an injured maybe good player in round one.
Trade best defensive player for two 3rd rd picks who probably will have minimal impact on the field ever.
I know I’m down on the team lately, but this is still super dumb. We somehow got worse after two rounds of the draft.
That doesn’t even mention that we traded him to a conference contender, and we didn’t even get pick 68.
Just ball-less from the Vikings front office….again
Is ok, we have all been there.
Personally I am not going to pretend I know more about what is going on than the coaches and front office. So until I know more about Calebs health and the behind the curtain details about Greenard I will just sit back and watch the show.
He is not worth the $33 million a year the Eagles gave him
Hurt a lot last year, 3 sacks, i think we have some less expensive options
He wanted more money.
The Vikes needed the cap space.
He didn’t live up to his money demands.
🤷♂️
OK… that’s enough reporting for me…
You did good for someone who wasn’t going to even watch the draft.
#grin
Just watching twitter… grin
64th
This was denied tonight by the Giants GM
Long fall for the youngster, was rated mid/late 1st round. Was moving up before the draft, wonder what caused the fall?
Yeah… dunno.
Did we get enough for Greenard?
Kind of, he wanted more than we were willing to pay him so that was going to go downhill, we avoided that, got back cap space, more snaps for Gink and Hunter, two 3rd rounders ’26 and ’27.
Who is Hunter?
Errr, Turner.
Typing fast and loose never works out well for us old guys.
Oh yeah, Turner needs more snaps
Yes
I would’ve like 68 instead of 98 this year for the 3rd rounder.
Well duh, more is always better.
And David goddamn putney
You god damn pancake eating mother f’er.
I like the trade
No
Wow
I love it….
Why? Two third round picks? That’s nothing for a pro bowl caliber player
Figured that when they took Golday, I wonder if they’ll trade back into the second round now
We save what $12 M in cap space?
53
FTP!!
Does Golday have a foot?
Allegedly he has two, no confirmation if one is left and one is right though
Who is Golday?
Golday, LB, Cincinnati, 6’4 1/2″, 239 lbs, 9.85 RAS.
LB Cincinnati, appears to have positional flexibility between off or on ball linebacker, seems like a Flores type guy, though he’s a ginger so he’s got that going against him
McNeil-Warren??
Nope LB. Golday, LB, Cincinnati, 6’4 1/2″, 239 lbs, 9.85 RAS.
Here we go again?
Good, Jets took the way short CB.
5′ 8 and 5/8ths”.
Vikings trade back from 49 to 51 to trade up from 196 to 159
ESPN had that backwards for the second set of picks. Phew!
lol, I didn’t see that
One Will still be there, calm down
Laughing
I meant not you, meant the twitter guy, actually both still there
Traded back 2. Moved up from 6th to the 5th……
Good move
We traded back?
2 spots to 51 it looks like.
Yes
ESPN showed we traded back both spots. That’s impossible. They could not have had the whole trade showing.
Move back two spots and gave up #196 to get #159. Good trade
Pick up #159 looks like.
Here we go!
We traded down
Traded back