Caleb Banks overcomes odds, injury concerns to be NFL first-round pick

GAINESVILLE - Caleb Banks beat the odds Thursday night, turning months of uncertainty and injury concerns into a first-round surprise when the Minnesota Vikings selected the former Florida defensive tackle with the No. 18 pick in the NFL draft.

The selection capped a dramatic rise for Banks, who just last month navigated the pre-draft process on a knee scooter after foot surgery. Once viewed as a potential medical risk after multiple procedures on his left foot, the Vikings decided Banks’ upside outweighed any lingering concerns.

A native of Detroit, Bank said his visit to Minnesota during the draft process left him hoping the Vikings would select him.

“I loved everything that I saw when I went there, from the people to the players and the coaches and just the whole atmosphere,” he said. “When I got the call, I saw the Vikings and I, like, jumped. I looked at my brother. He was like, ‘You gotta answer.’ And I’m like, ‘All right.’ I picked it up, and then history was there.

“The family was there. It was great. It’s a blessing. I’m just happy that that I’m here in this situation.”

Banks became the sixth Florida player selected in the first round over the past seven years. In 2025, receiver Chimere Dike was the first Gator drafted - at No. 103 by the Tennessee Titans. The 22-year-old from Detroit was the first defensive tackle taken in the draft, the first Gator at the position to go in the first round since Taven Bryan (No. 29, 2018) and highest Florida defensive tackle drafted since Gerard Warren (No. 3, 2001).

Banks heads to a team with a rich tradition at defensive tackle, including Hall of Famers Alan Page and John Randall.

Banks’ journey was anything but smooth - all the way up to the life-changing phone call.

“The whole day was nerve wracking, kind of had the jitters the whole entire day,” he said.

During Florida's Pro Day, he was unable to participate while recovering from surgery to repair a fractured fourth metatarsal suffered suffered the evening before his NFL combine workout. While teammates ran drills for scouts March 26 in Gainesville, Banks encouraged them while later insisting his own opportunity would come.

"I don't think that it undercuts my value," he said at the time. "I don't think that it did anything detrimental to my draft stock.”

Banks entered Thursday increasingly confident.

On Wednesday, he sent a letter to NFL teams informing them that he is on pace to be fully cleared for full football activities in early June. Minnesota took his word and expect him to deliver on his talent and potential.

“I’m getting better, getting healthy, so I can go out there and perform when that time comes,” he said Thursday. “I’m feeling good, feeling great. Just got a CT scan … went well. Everything’s going for good going forward.

“We’re off to the races.”

Despite playing just three games in 2025, Banks offers a combination of size, explosiveness and flashes of dominance the Vikings deemed too good to pass up. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound Banks ran a 5.01-second 40-yard dash at the combine despite his ailing foot while also posting a 32-inch vertical and a 9-foot, 6-inch broad jump.

Banks' tape in late 2024 was his best selling point. He closed the season season in dominant fashion, highlighted by a 2.5-sack performance in Florida's upset of No. 9 Ole Miss.

Banks began his career at Louisville before transferring to Florida, and he steadily developed into a disruptive interior presence. In 27 games, including 24 starts, he recorded 48 tackles with 10.5 for loss (6.5 sacks), three forced fumbles, one defended pass, one fumble recovery - and 59 quarterbacks pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

“I haven’t reached my full potential,” he said. “I have a lot to learn.”

But Banks believes he will grow and flourish as a pro because he possesses rare ability at his position.

“I feel like I’m a freak athlete in one-on-one,” he said. “Not a lot of guys have the skill set that I have. If I develop my tools the way that I knew I could, I could dangerous.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 10:42 PM.