Caleb Banks is the pick at No. 18 for the Minnesota Vikings.
Florida DT Caleb Banks is joining the Minnesota Vikings to anchor their defensive line.
The Vikings entered Thursday’s 2026 NFL Draft holding the No. 18 pick in the first round. Regardless of whether a franchise is pushing for a deep playoff run or trying to build toward the future, the opening round carries major importance. More often than not, this is where impact talent comes off the board, and in the NFL, first-rounders are usually expected to help right away. Unlike some other leagues where rookies may need time to develop, football’s top prospects often arrive ready to play meaningful snaps immediately, and sometimes even emerge as top-tier contributors in their first season.
With their first-round pick on Thursday, the Vikings selected DT Caleb Banks and added what they hope will be a major piece for both the short and long term. A physical presence in the middle, he will play in the trenches and hope to anchor the middle of Minnesota's defense. He has a unique blend of size and athleticism at the defensive tackle position that the Vikings will be able to leverage in multiple ways.
Banks now enters the 2026 NFL season as Minnesota’s top rookie and will look to be the kind of player who can contribute early and help push this team forward. Obviously, the Vikings put a lot of work into scouting this class and felt strongly about this selection. And as the rest of the draft unfolds, we’ll continue to break down this move along with every other pick Minnesota makes over the next two days during all seven rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.