Caleb Banks Turns Heads at Senior Bowl, Vaults into Top 10 Draft Conversation
Caleb Banks couldn’t have picked a better time to put together his most dominant stretch of football. The 6-foot-5, 340-pound Florida defensive tackle was a force all week in Mobile, showing off the kind of physical tools and disruptive presence that NFL teams dream about anchoring the middle of their defense.
During Senior Bowl practices, Banks consistently overwhelmed offensive linemen with a rare combination of raw power and surprising quickness for a man his size. And when the lights came on for the game itself, he didn’t slow down. He notched a half sack and continued to wreak havoc from the interior, flashing the explosiveness and hand technique that make him a nightmare for opposing guards and centers.
NFL scouts took notice - and so did the mock drafts.
Banks has seen his stock surge following his performance in Mobile. In Ryan Wilson’s latest mock draft, he’s projected to go ninth overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
That kind of leap into the top 10 is no small feat, especially for a player who missed time this past season with a foot injury. But when you watch the tape from the Senior Bowl, it’s easy to see why he’s climbing.
When Banks keeps his pad level low, he’s nearly impossible to block. On one rep during practice, he reset the line of scrimmage with sheer power, then followed it up with a violent rip and swim move that left the blocker in his wake.
On another, he simply beat his man with quickness - a rare trait for a 340-pounder. Plays like those are why evaluators are calling him a clear Round 1 talent.
Wilson highlighted Banks' unique physical profile - 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, with 35-inch arms - and praised his motor and explosiveness. Despite being sidelined for part of the 2025 season, Banks participated in all three Senior Bowl practices and, according to Wilson, was “pretty much unblockable on every rep.” That kind of dominance, especially coming off an injury, says a lot about where Banks is trending.
The numbers from this past season don’t jump off the page - six tackles and a fumble recovery - but context matters. That foot injury limited his availability and effectiveness. Go back to 2024, and you’ll find a much more complete picture: 21 tackles and 4.5 sacks, showing the kind of disruptive potential that teams covet in a three-down interior lineman.
What’s most exciting is that Banks still feels like he’s just getting started. His physical ceiling is sky-high, and with the right coaching and development at the next level, he could become a foundational piece for a defensive front. Whether it’s Kansas City or another team picking in the top half of the first round, someone’s going to land a player with the tools to be a game-changer.
Now, with the Senior Bowl in the rearview, all eyes shift to the NFL Combine. That will be another big stage for Banks - both in workouts and in interviews - as he looks to solidify his rising draft stock. If he continues trending the way he has, don’t be surprised if his name is called even earlier than expected come April.
Caleb Banks is officially on the radar - and he’s not going anywhere.