A lot of eyebrows were raised when the Minnesota Vikings took a shot on defensive tackle Caleb Banks in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft despite his injury concerns from college.
Banks injured his foot twice in the last nine months, leading many to believe he is injury-prone and a risk to select. Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton has another label for Banks: bust. Moton named one player on each NFL team he predicts will be a bust in 2026, with Banks getting selected for Minnesota.
"According to The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Caleb Banks broke his foot at the NFL Scouting Combine and was expected to be out until June. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that teams received a letter with confirmation of that recovery timeline.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Banks with the No. 18 overall pick in the draft, and he's yet to participate in practice. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expects the 6'6", 327-pound defensive tackle to be ready for training camp (h/t ESPN's Kevin Seifert).
Even if Banks is on the practice field in a couple of weeks, the Vikings probably won't ramp him up to full speed right away. After missing spring practices, the rookie first-rounder may see limited reps, which may delay his start to the season and push for a prominent role on the defensive line."
Is it too premature to predict Minnesota Vikings rookie defensive lineman Caleb Banks being a "bust" in 2026?
Last season, Banks only played three games, so it's hard to indicate what kind of player he is now, but looking at the 2024 tape, Vikings fans will see a guy who can do a little bit of both in stopping the run and pressuring the QB. In 12 games back in 2024, he finished that season with 21 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass deflection
Banks should be viewed as a Day 1 starter on the defensive line as long as he is healthy. The Vikings could be very cautious with him at the beginning, but they will need him to step up and become a reliable starter at some point this season.
Jalen Redmond is the top guy on the defensive line. Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins will also have an impact, but Redmond and Banks are the most important players at the position.
Another fellow Vikings rookie defensive tackle, third-round pick Domonique Orange, could also play a critical role early in the season. Should Banks have any setbacks, Orange might be able to sneak into the starting lineup.
Everyone needs to give Banks a chance; if it weren't for the foot injury, no one would have questioned his selection. He is a first-round talent who will have to overcome durability concerns and prove his abilities on the field.
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