Teams receive crucial update: Florida's top defensive tackle prospect is on pace for full football activities by June, aiming to impact NFL squads.
Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks was trending to be a first-round pick before he suffered a foot injury during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Banks had to undergo two surgeries since 2025, which appears to be hurting his draft stock before Thursday night's first round.
It appears the talented defensive tackle will be a Day 2 selection despite being a first-round talent.
With questions about Banks swirling before the 2026 NFL Draft, teams in the league received a crucial update on his recovery.
Per ESNP's Pete Thamel, league teams received a letter that the defensive tackle should be available for mandatory minicamp at OTAs in June.
"NEWS: NFL teams received a letter today about Caleb Banks as he recovers from a surgically repaired bone in his left foot," Thamel posted on X. "Per ESPN sources, the letter states that after a CT scan on Tuesday that Banks is 'on pace to be fully cleared for full football activities in early June.'
"The letter and timeline come after Dr. Norman Waldrop, a foot and ankle specialist with the Andrews Clinic, looked at Banks’ scan. Banks is regarded at the top of this defensive tackle class. He had surgery on March 9 on the fractured fourth metatarsal."
Banks doesn't think the injury should hurt his draft stock. He's not stressed about where he will end up this spring. His goal is to make an impact for whatever team takes him.
"I mean, absolutely not. I don't think that it undercuts my value," Banks said in March, via 247Sports. "I don't think that it did anything detrimental to my draft stock," said Banks.
"I don't really think too much about that, you know what I mean? I'm staying grounded, like, it happened, it happened. You know, my story's already written. So, I'm kind of just taking it day by day. Wherever I land, that's where I'm supposed to land."
It remains to be seen if the letter helps to calm some front offices before the draft.
Banks is a widely talented player, and there aren't many great interior defensive linemen in the draft.