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Vikings use first-round pick on Florida DT Caleb Banks, who broke his foot before the combine
TL;DR
The Minnesota Vikings selected Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 18th pick in the NFL draft, despite him breaking his foot before the combine. Banks, a 6-foot-6, 327-pound prospect, adds bulk and athleticism to the Vikings' roster.
Key points
- Vikings selected Caleb Banks with the 18th pick in the NFL draft
- Banks broke his foot before the combine, impacting his draft position
- Vikings aim to build depth with four top-100 picks in the draft
Mentioned in this story
Indianapolis
Caleb BanksMinnesota VikingsNFL draft
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings selected Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 18th pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, adding some interior bulk and athleticism with a raw prospect whose recent injury likely pushed him down the board. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound Banks cracked the fourth metatarsal bone in his left foot in February while practicing for the 40-yard dash the night before the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. He had surgery on it last month, his second procedure in six months. Injuries to his left foot caused him to miss games in both 2023 and 2025 for the Gators. The Vikings signed veteran defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency last year but cut them both for salary cap savings last month. Neither Allen nor Hargrave generated much of a pass rush in defensive coordinator Brian Flores' system. If Banks is healthy, he could form a sturdy tandem for the future with budding standout Jalen Redmond. After finishing 9-8 amid persistent quarterback problems with both health and performance, the Vikings missed the playoffs and fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Longtime salary cap executive Rob Brzezinski has taken over the role on an interim basis, in charge of fostering consensus between the coaching staff and the scouting department in the preparation for and direction of the draft. Brzezinski spoke several times this spring of the importance of not prioritizing a pick for present need over long-term value, making clear the Vikings in this transition would be content to let the talent fall to them and focus on restocking their depth with four top-100 picks. The Vikings will take three picks into the second night of the draft on Friday, 49th overall in the second round and 82nd and 97th overall in the third round. \\_ AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell contributed. \\_ AP NFL:
Q&A
What injury did Caleb Banks suffer before the NFL combine?
Caleb Banks broke the fourth metatarsal bone in his left foot while practicing for the 40-yard dash.
Why did the Vikings select Caleb Banks in the first round?
The Vikings selected Caleb Banks to add interior bulk and athleticism, viewing him as a raw prospect with long-term potential despite his recent injury.
What are the Vikings' next picks in the NFL draft after selecting Banks?
The Vikings will have the 49th overall pick in the second round and the 82nd and 97th overall picks in the third round.
