Mel Kiper Jr. projects Florida DT Caleb Banks to Denver. This powerful run-stopper could anchor the Broncos' elite defense.
Right now, all of the focus for the Denver Broncos is on finding a way to defeat the New England Patriots in the AFC title game.
If the Broncos want to ride the plane to Santa Clara and play in the Super Bowl, they will have to win without QB Bo Nix.
At the same time, the mock drafts are coming out left and right with players declaring for the draft and the Senior Bowl approaching.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. had a new mock draft, and he has the Broncos selecting Florida Gators defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the choice.
"Injuries limited Banks to three games this past season, but I enjoyed watching his 2024 tape. He had 4.5 sacks that campaign, getting some good interior push. But his real impact is as a run defender: At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, he stuffs ball carriers and makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. This would be a depth addition for Denver. He could learn from Zach Allen and help keep the elite Broncos defense among the league's best units down the road."
Even with injuries, Banks' name is a popular one in the first round of mock drafts. Banks played one season with the Louisville Cardinals before moving to the Florida Gators.
In 2024, he had 21 total tackles with 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble, and he played sparingly in 2025 due to injuries, which is a reason he could slide on draft boards.
Banks Earns High Draft Praise
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus ranked Banks 14th out of 315 players in his rankings, and he had strong praise for the Gators' defensive standout.
"Banks is a big, strong, and violent player with the size and strength to be an impactful defensive lineman in the NFL," Sikkema wrote. "He brings a strong club move that he relies on to get past blockers and into the backfield as a go-to option."
So, Banks dropping to the end of the first round could make this a very easy pick for the Broncos, and adding a talented defensive lineman to an already-dangerous defense is not what opposing teams want to see.
The Broncos picking at the end of the first round is because they have a talented roster, but finding a gem in Banks, who might've been a top-15 pick if he wasn't injured, should be a decision that doesn't take much thinking for the front office on draft day.