Caleb Banks — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

With Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all headed for free agency, Chicago figures to have a need at safety. But the Bears also need to find a way to plug up the middle of their defensive front. Banks offers size, length and upside.

The run on edge rushers before this pick leaves the Chargers with some interesting decisions. Do they add to an offensive line that was marred by injury in 2025 or try to fix a D-line that still needs a true anchor to help defend the run? With the talent that's left on the board, Banks would be very enticing as the nose tackle Los Angeles is missing. The 6-foot-6 339-pounder is an aggressive bull rusher with rare first-step quickness for his size. Think Vita Vea, but with better length. Banks missed all but two games last season due to a foot injury, but his Senior Bowl performance was well-received by scouts, who saw the explosive play in the trenches that excited them entering the 2025 season.

At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds with 35-inch arms, Banks is surprisingly explosive for his size, playing with power, juice and a nonstop motor. A foot injury sidelined him for parts of the 2025 season, but he took part in all three Senior Bowl practices and was pretty much unblockable on every rep. If he's fully healthy, he has top-10 ability.

The board didn't fall favorably for the Chiefs in this mock, with Rueben Bain Jr., Jeremiyah Love and the best two offensive linemen all gone. They could pick a cornerback, but I think they may look at the defensive line. Banks didn't play much in 2025 due to a foot injury, but on the final two days of Senior Bowl practices, he reminded us why he was seen as a potential top-15 pick heading into the season. His size and length — 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds — are very alluring to pair with Chris Jones.

A preseason foot injury cost Banks (6-6, 330) all but three games this season, but he returned for the Gators' final two contests. Perhaps no interior defensive lineman can match Banks' skill set, and he's likely to blow up at the Senior Bowl this week. If that happens, though, Banks will not be around at No. 25.

The Texans could lean into a strength-on-strength philosophy by adding another building block to their championship-caliber defense. Banks' superior size, strength and disruptive potential would enhance a front that features a pair of destructive bookends in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.