Rookie Kelvin Banks Jr. immediately impressed, showcasing elite skills and securing his role as the Saints' offensive cornerstone. His performance hints at future greatness.
The New Orleans Saints had an excellent draft last offseason. It's unlikely Saints fans could have hoped for anything better.
Much of the shine for the 2025 draft class has been taken over by the team's second round draft selection in starting quarterback Tyler Shough. But the Saints' unsung hero was New Orleans' first round pick, Kelvin Banks Jr.
The star offensive tackle was elite from his first game at Texas when he took the field his freshman year. The trend continued in the first season of his NFL career.
Rene Nadeau of Crescent City Sports took notice of Banks' breakout season. Nadeau wrote the following of Banks through one season.
"It is far too soon to proclaim the Saints’ top selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kelvin Banks Jr., as a future franchise Hall of Famer. However, the rookie flashed unique skills rarely displayed by any of his predecessors during his 17 starts at left tackle this season.
The Humble, Texas native, who turns 22 on March 10, graded among the league’s better left tackles despite being thrust into the role as an NFL novice. Over 681 pass-blocking snaps, the 6-foot-5, 315-pound rookie allowed just five sacks and three penalties (out of five total flags, two were declined), often with minimal assistance from a guard, running back, or tight end in pass protection.
Banks earned an overall 73.3 grade from Pro Football Focus across 1,066 total snaps, including an 87.7 pass-blocking grade. His 76.2 run-blocking grade ranked second among all rookie offensive linemen, regardless of position."
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (71) against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesPerhaps it isn't too early to put Banks on Hall of Fame watch. That is where his career appears to be headed.
Banks' five sacks allowed in 2025 is higher than Texas Longhorns fans were accustomed to seeing in college, but the leap from college football to the pros is difficult to simulate. As the rest of Banks' rookie season sample size would indicate, the talented offensive lineman was ready to make the move to the league into the starting lineup.
The former Texas tackle's emergence does a few things for the Saints but certainly does one key thing for the team in particular: Banks gives New Orleans a cornerstone player around which to build. For a team that has struggled with the salary cap of late, having a star offensive tackle on a rookie contract does plenty to relieve the pressure of team building.
Banks will look to put together a strong second season in New Orleans next year.