The Minnesota Vikings drafted Florida DL Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
With the 18th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected Florida DL Caleb Banks.
Banks only played in three games for the Gators in 2025 because of injuries. He has significant concerns over previous foot injuries, which is why Bleacher Report NFL analyst Brent Sobleski bashed the Vikings for taking Banks so high.
"First-round picks tend to be a 50-50 proposal even in optimal situations," Sobleski wrote. "Banks has an added strike against him before walking into Minnesota's building. The Vikings must now cross their fingers and hope the defensive lineman can stay on the field. The pick was the type of high-risk, high-reward opportunity multiple other franchises wouldn't have considered, particularly among the top-20 selections."
Banks has twice broken his left foot in the past year, costing him most of the 2025 season at Florida and requiring surgery after the NFL scouting combine in March. He sent a letter to NFL teams that identified the injury as a broken fourth metatarsal bone and projected he would be ready to resume football activities in June.
Banks initially broke his foot in the second quarter of Florida's season-opening game against LSU and took a shot to help him continue playing. The approach "didn't work," he said.
Banks was healthy enough to participate in the Senior Bowl but re-broke the foot at the combine in what Banks called "a freak accident." Banks said he was practicing his drill starts the night before his on-field workouts and felt a pop.
Banks participated in some position drills the next day at the combine but ultimately dropped out because of discomfort from the injury. He said his goal is to drop weight and play at 310 or 315 pounds to limit the strain on his foot.
This was a huge risk for the Vikings. Let's see if it works out for them.
"I think we have the best doctors in the country, if not the world," Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski said. "And we have complete confidence in them. There's nothing without risk in any player you select, but we feel very good about where Caleb will be when it's time to go to training camp. And so we're comfortable with the injury."
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