NFL Draft Update: Gators’ Caleb Banks Goes 18th Overall to Vikings
Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks has found his new home. Banks was drafted 18th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday.
A towering 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Banks was ranked in the top 5 of his position group going into the draft. The Vikings defense finished 3rd best in the NFL, allowing 32 touchdowns while giving up an average of 282.6 yards per game.
“Really excited about adding a player of Caleb’s talent,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Thursday. “We really felt like we were able to identify a player with a ceiling of what we believe to be a top ten caliber talent and difference maker potentially. … We get to add a guy with a ton of upside.
“Can’t wait to coach this player. He loves football, wants to be coached hard and ultimately believes the Minnesota Vikings are a great place for him to come and try to maximize who he is as a player. Not only now, but where we think he can take this thing throughout his career with the type of talent and ability that he has.”
Banks started his career at Louisville before transferring to Florida before the 2023 season, finishing his time as Gator with 48 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, but it wasn’t always easy.
Late into the 2024 season, Banks showed his physicality and dominance against the Ole Miss Rebels. He finished with four total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Banks entered his senior season as the anchor for the Gators defensive line.
However, injuries derailed his final season at Florida, which added questions around his draft position. His talent was never in doubt, but the injuries stacked up.
After injuring his foot in fall camp, Banks missed the first two games of the season, before making his return against the LSU Tigers on Sept. 13, 2025. In his season debut, he reinjured his foot and only played three games on the year for Florida. In the offseason, Banks broke his foot during the Scouting Combine.
Regarding Bank’s foot injury, teams received a letter Wednesday stating Banks is on pace to be fully cleared for football activities in early June, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Florida continued its streak of having a pick in every NFL Draft since 1967. UF is one of three schools, along with USC and Michigan, and is the only SEC program to achieve the mark.
The draft’s rounds 2-3 start at 7 p.m. Friday on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (Spanish). Rounds 4-7 start at noon Saturday on the same networks.
UF defensive back Devin Moore and center Jake Slaughter are expected to be selected tonight.
Other UF players expected to be drafted this weekend: Offensive lineman Austin Barber, edge George Gumbs Jr., edge Tyreak Sapp, wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, kicker Trey Smack and punter Tommy Doman.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gators Football
