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Caleb Banks has some hurdles to clear before he becomes a star for the Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the No. 18 pick in last night’s NFL Draft. 

The former Gator has plenty of upside, but his age and injury concerns have left several questions in the minds of fans. At 23, and coming off back-to-back years of breaking his foot, there’s a lot that needs to be figured out before Banks can reach his full potential. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had some harsh words for the Vikings and their selection of Banks, citing his boom or bust outlook. 

“Big-time reach for me,” wrote Kiper. “Banks was No. 62 on my board, the biggest stretch of the night. Sure, there’s reason to believe this could work out for the Vikings. Banks can stop running backs in their tracks, and he gets enough interior push to be a factor in the pass rush. He moves well for a 6-foot-6, 327-pounder. But he has been dealing with a foot injury for a while now, and he just had surgery on it after the combine. A lot of risk here, even if Banks is healthy and at his best can shore up the interior.”

“This was made worse by the fact that safety Dillon Thieneman was still on the board,” he continued. “Everyone thought that pairing made sense. Harrison Smith is still uncertain to return for 2026, and even if he comes back, he’s 37 years old. Thieneman would have been perfect in Brian Flores’ defense. Not sure I understand this one.”

Was Caleb Banks a Mistake for the Vikings?

Before his foot issues, Banks was considered a potential top-10 pick in the draft. So while there are concerns, the talent is there. The Vikings moved on from defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen this offseason, creating a big need on the inside. Banks will now pair with breakout player Jalen Redmond to potentially form one of the league’s top defensive fronts. 

Analyst Todd McShay also thinks that Banks could be a superstar, if he can move past his injuries of course, and compared him to some high-caliber talent. 

“Banks has All-Pro potential whether he’s playing on the inside in a four-man front or as defensive end in a base three-man front,” wrote McShay. “There are no obvious comps here. Jordan Davis is bigger and even more explosive. Calais Campbell and DeForest Buckner were lighter coming out of college. That said, I do see shades of Chris Jones when he was coming out of Mississippi State in 2016.” 

How Does the Caleb Banks Pick Affect the Vikings GM Search?

With such a risky pick, and some immediate negative feedback, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski may face a steep challenge to maintaining the position full time. The Vikings have said that they will begin their job search after the draft, and many have speculated that Brzezinski may hold onto the job.

But with such a divisive selection, his path towards that possibility may have gotten more nebulous. It’s hard to judge a player in their first year, and especially in their first month, but the risks involved with Banks aren’t providing an advantage to Brzezinski’s chances. 

Trevor Ripley Trevor Ripley is a Heavy writer covering the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. More about Trevor Ripley