Florida DT Caleb Banks is a boom/bust prospect

Player Profile

Caleb Banks | Defensive Line | Florida

• Height: 6-6
• Weight: 327 pounds
• Arm Length: 35 1/4 inches
• Wingspan: 85 7/8 inches
• Hand Size: 10 7/8 inches
• 40-time: 5.04 seconds
• 10-Yard Split: 1.76 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 32 inches
• Broad Jump: 9-6 inches

Film Room

Scouting Report

Strengths

• Size, length, and build – Has a wide/towering frame, long arms, big hands, and looks like an elite NFL defensive tackle
• Plus athleticism and strength – Explosive athlete with a quick first step – Is a fluid athlete and turns speed into power
• Pass rush potential – Explosive off the line, long arms, and has quick win potential
• Has plenty of pass-rush moves at his disposal and has the ability to chase down quarterbacks
• Uses his long arms and strength to push blockers backwards
• Anchors well in the run game and can shed blockers and fill up running lanes
• High-upside player with all the traits and athleticism you look for in a prospect
• No character concerns and could thrive in the NFL if he lands in the right situation

Weaknesses

• Injuries – Has suffered multiple foot injuries throughout his career – A foot injury limited him to just 3 games this past year, and he broke his foot again at the Combine – Medicals will be key with his evaluation
• Plays too tall at times and allows blockers to gain leverage
• Consistency – The flashes are amazing, but they do not consistently happen – talent does not match his production
• Foot injuries have impacted his conditioning a little bit

What other analysts are saying about Florida DT Caleb Banks

The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, on Florida DT Caleb Banks

Banks is a towering athlete with the fluid athleticism and unique physical traits to be impactful against the pass and the run. He is long and strong enough to claim early wins when he stays disciplined in his initial attack. But his taller stature can zap his power and take him out of plays, as he allows blockers to out-leverage him and stay attached. He leaves too much production on the field, although his tackling should improve with better conditioning. Banks has a rare combination of size, raw power and big-man twitch, all of which lead to big-time flashes and glimpses of his ceiling. However, the absence of a healthy senior season complicates his projection, and his draft grade will depend on each team’s appetite for risk.

NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein on Florida DT Caleb Banks

Big-framed, long-limbed interior defender whose play needs more polish to consistently match his traits. Banks has a quick first step. He can stun/control single blocks when his hand strikes are timely and accurate, but he needs faster disengagement to increase his tackle count. His high center of gravity allows double teams to generate displacement, so a move to odd-front end could be in his best interest as a run defender. Like a grappler without submission knowledge, Banks is still learning to unlock his physical advantages so he can turn them into sacks. His traits and flashes at the Senior Bowl make him an enticing prospect, but injury concerns are a potential stumbling block for him.

Caleb Banks RAS

Should the Broncos select Florida DT Caleb Banks in the 2nd round of the 2026 NFL Draft if he falls to them?

It all depends on the medicals. The Broncos brought him in for a pre-draft top 30 visit and most likely had him evaluated by their doctors. If they feel comfortable with his foot, this could be an absolute steal; however, if they have questions, he may not even be on their board.

Banks is the classic case of having all the traits you cannot teach (size, length, strength, and athleticism) but never putting it all together in college. His overall production is not great, but those flashes of brilliance, paired with the traits, keep you intrigued.

He dominated at the Senior Bowl and tested well at the Combine despite the broken foot, but the medical risks and boom/bust traits are a major concern.

Overall, Banks is very boom/bust. You love the traits, and he has the potential to be a Chris Jones-like player in the middle of your defense. However, the inconsistent play, lack of production, and injuries could give you a dud. The Broncos are in a good position to take a risk on a player like Banks if available, but their recent draft history tells us they will probably go in another direction.