On Thursday, April 23, the Minnesota Vikings owned the No. 18 overall pick in the NFL Draft. With that pick they selected six-foot-six inch Caleb Banks, a 327 pound defensive tackle out of the University of Florida.
https://x.com/Vikings/status/2047496202262925470
Banks spent his redshirt and Freshman years at Louisville in 2021-22, before transferring to Florida for the next three seasons from 2023-25. In five collegiate seasons he played in 34 games, racking up 48 tackles with 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Injuries limited Banks to play in only three games during the 2025 season after battling multiple foot injuries.
https://x.com/Vikings/status/2047493928656502897
Banks was listed as the third ranked defensive tackle in the draft. ESPN had him listed as the 34th best prospect entering the draft. Per Scouts Inc. he can “slip blocks and locate the ball” with the ability to split double teams.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke on the selection of Banks:
https://x.com/Vikings/status/2047499891400696274
The Vikings currently have eight additional picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. They have picks in the second (49th overall), third (82nd + 97th overall), fifth (163rd overall), sixth (196th overall ), and three picks in the seventh round (234th, 235th, and 244th overall). The second and third round will be held on Friday with rounds four thru seven on Saturday.
