Caleb Banks Draft Grade | Round 1, Pick 18 | FanVerdicts

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Sentiment

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Fan Verdict

Sentiment Analysis

Scouting Report

Big Board Rank: #34 · Day 2 Value

Caleb Banks emerged as one of the SEC's most disruptive interior defenders during his three-year tenure at Florida, developing from a raw but athletic freshman into a polished pass-rushing specialist. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle possesses an elite first step and an impressive array of pass-rush moves that allowed him to rack up 28.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks over his final two seasons. Banks' combination of quickness off the snap, hand technique, and relentless motor makes him a three-down player capable of collapsing pockets in obvious passing situations while holding his own against the run. His draft stock has steadily climbed throughout the pre-draft process, with several teams viewing him as a potential steal in the second round who could develop into a consistent 8-10 sack interior rusher at the next level.

Strengths

+Outstanding first-step quickness allows him to consistently beat guards and centers off the snap, creating early pressure before offensive linemen can establish proper sets.

+Diverse pass-rush repertoire includes an effective swim move, rip technique, and developing bull rush that keeps blockers guessing throughout games.

+Exceptional hand placement and technique enable him to create separation and maintain leverage against larger offensive linemen in both run and pass situations.

+High motor player who pursues plays sideline to sideline and never takes snaps off, often making tackles 15-20 yards downfield on screen passes and sweeps.

+Shows impressive flexibility and bend for his size, able to dip his shoulder and turn the corner when rushing from 3-technique or 1-technique alignments.

+Strong anchor against double teams in run defense, using proper hand placement and leverage to avoid being moved off his spot or sealed from gaps.

+Excellent snap anticipation and timing, frequently getting off the ball before opposing centers and guards can react to his movement.

+Demonstrates good football IQ with ability to recognize screen passes early and redirect to make plays in space behind the line of scrimmage.

+Productive pass rusher who consistently generated pressure even when not recording sacks, forcing quarterbacks into hurried throws and bad decisions.

+Physical style of play that wears down offensive linemen throughout games, with his best performances often coming in fourth quarters when opponents tire.

Weaknesses

-Needs to add functional strength to his frame as he can be overwhelmed by powerful guards who get hands on him early and sustain blocks.

-Limited experience in multiple gap schemes and may struggle initially transitioning from Florida's one-gap system to more complex NFL defensive concepts.

-Can be inconsistent with pad level, occasionally playing too high and allowing offensive linemen to get under his pads and neutralize his leverage.

-Run defense technique needs refinement, particularly his ability to shed blocks quickly and make tackles in tight spaces between the hashes.

-Sometimes over-pursues plays and gets caught out of position on misdirection concepts, counters, and bootleg actions by mobile quarterbacks.

-Stamina becomes an issue in extended drives where he may lose some explosiveness and rush lane discipline late in long possessions.

-Needs to develop more counter moves when his initial pass rush is stopped, occasionally struggling to create secondary rushes when first move fails.

-Can be too aggressive at times, leading to neutral zone infractions and other pre-snap penalties that hurt his team's defensive positioning.

NFL Comparison: Javon Kinlaw

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