The Chicago Bears are heading into one of their most pivotal drafts in recent memory. With limited room to maneuver in free agency due to salary cap constraints, GM Ryan Poles and newly hired head coach Ben Johnson will need to hit on their draft picks-no safety net, no margin for error. Every evaluation matters, and every selection will carry weight.
One name generating buzz around Halas Hall is Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. At 6’7” and 330 pounds, Banks is a physical specimen, and despite his 2025 season being cut short by injuries, he made a strong impression during his time on the field in 2024. He reminded scouts why he was once considered a rising force-and then doubled down with a standout week at the Senior Bowl, where he flashed the kind of traits that get NFL front offices talking.
Banks brings rare length and surprising quickness for a man his size. His power at the point of attack is evident, and his first step has caught more than a few offensive linemen off guard.
But like many young defensive linemen with elite tools, he’s still raw. He tends to play too upright, which limits his leverage, and when his initial move doesn’t land, he can stall out.
Sound familiar? That’s because these were many of the same knocks on Gervon Dexter when he came out of Florida in 2023.
And that’s where things get interesting.
Dexter, for all the criticism, took a noticeable step forward this past season. He posted a career-high six sacks and added 11 quarterback hits.
That’s solid production, especially for a player still developing in a rotational role. But the Bears didn’t draft Dexter to be solid-they hoped he’d become a game-wrecker, a disruptive interior force in the mold of Chris Jones.
That hasn’t materialized yet. It’s worth remembering Dexter was a late second-round pick.
The question now becomes: would the Bears be willing to spend a first-rounder-specifically the 25th overall pick-on a player with a similar profile?
That decision may ultimately rest with new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. His evaluation of Dexter, and how he sees Banks fitting into his defensive scheme, could heavily influence the Bears’ approach. Allen has a track record of maximizing defensive line talent, but he’ll need to decide whether Banks is a moldable piece or another project with no guaranteed return.
What makes Banks intriguing-and perhaps more enticing than Dexter-are the flashes of elite traits he’s already shown. His get-off is quicker, his snap anticipation more consistent.
Those are the kinds of details that separate disruptive linemen from rotational depth. If the Bears believe they can clean up his pad level and improve his counters, Banks could be more than just a Dexter clone-he could be a legitimate difference-maker.
Of course, that’s a big “if.” Development is never a sure thing in the NFL, especially for interior linemen who rely so heavily on technique and leverage.
But let’s be honest: if you’re picking at 25, you’re not always going to land a slam-dunk star. Sometimes, you take a swing on upside.
And if Banks can give you 5-6 sacks a year while anchoring the middle of the line, that’s a valuable piece-especially for a team that still needs to build a consistent pass rush from the inside out.
The Bears have options, and the draft board will dictate plenty. But if they’re eyeing another big-bodied, athletic interior disruptor, Caleb Banks might just be their guy. The question is whether they believe he can be more than just the next Gervon Dexter-and whether that’s enough to justify a first-round pick.