The Carolina Panthers are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear need-and most around the league expect them to address it early. After a 2025 season where the pass rush lacked consistent bite off the edge, the logical move would be to use their first-round pick on a premier edge rusher. But not everyone sees it that way.
In a recent mock draft, NBC Sports' Eric Froton threw a curveball, projecting Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks to Carolina in the first round. That’s right-an interior lineman, not an edge rusher.
Now, let’s unpack that.
Banks is a fascinating prospect. At 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, he’s built like a freight train but moves with surprising agility for a man his size.
Before a foot injury cut his 2025 season short, Banks was flashing the kind of disruptive potential that gets NFL scouts buzzing. He only managed 96 snaps before undergoing surgery, but in that limited action-and in the two seasons prior-he showed signs of becoming a legitimate interior force.
Florida’s coaching staff believed he was just scratching the surface of his pass-rushing ceiling.
That upside is real. And when you’re talking about a player with his size, athleticism, and ability to collapse the pocket from the inside, it’s easy to see why teams might be intrigued.
But here’s the thing: Carolina may not be in a position to roll the dice here.
This isn’t about Banks’ talent-it’s about fit and timing. The Panthers already have a strong interior presence with Derrick Brown anchoring the line.
Brown has quietly become one of the more effective interior disruptors in the league. And let’s not forget, Carolina added Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown in free agency last March.
That’s a fairly deep rotation on the inside.
What the Panthers don’t have is a consistent threat off the edge. That’s why Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell has been a name repeatedly linked to Carolina.
He checks the boxes: explosive first step, bend around the corner, and the kind of motor that keeps offensive tackles honest. That’s the kind of profile Carolina needs to complement its interior strength and elevate the entire defensive front.
Sure, Banks logged 4.5 sacks in 2024, and that shows he’s more than just a space-eater. But with the foot surgery still fresh and the Panthers already well-stocked inside, it’s fair to question whether this is the right time-or the right team-for a player like him to come off the board in Round 1.
There’s no denying Banks has a high ceiling. If he stays healthy, he could become a game-wrecker in the middle. But for Carolina, a team with glaring needs on the edge and a defense that’s still trying to find its identity post-Brian Burns, this feels like a luxury pick they can’t quite afford.
The Panthers have cap space and flexibility heading into free agency, which could shift their draft priorities. But as things stand, the safer-and smarter-play looks like going after a true edge rusher.
The kind of player who can change a game on third-and-long. The kind of player Carolina sorely missed last season.
Banks may well hear his name called early this April. But unless the Panthers’ offseason takes a major turn, don’t be surprised if they go in a different direction come draft night.