Kelvin Banks Jr.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Saints secured decent value on Kelvin Banks Jr.'s rookie deal, landing what amounts to a fair market contract for an unproven offensive tackle with C+ CVI grades. At $6.9M annually, New Orleans is paying mid-tier starter money for a player whose NFL production remains a complete unknown, which represents neither a steal nor an overpay in today's inflated tackle market. The four-year structure with full guarantees is standard rookie protocol, giving the Saints a manageable risk profile while Banks develops his technique against elite pass rushers. What's encouraging is the reasonable AAV that won't handicap their salary cap if Banks fails to meet expectations, unlike some recent tackle reaches that immediately became albatrosses. This C+ CVI reflects a competent front office move — the Saints didn't reach for upside they couldn't afford, but they also didn't uncover a hidden gem that could anchor their line for years at below-market rates.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Kelvin's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Kelvin Banks Jr. arrives in New Orleans as one of the more intriguing young offensive linemen in this draft class, a former blue-chip prospect stepping into a professional role that will demand immediate growth and consistency. At just 22 years old with 17 career games under his belt, Banks is squarely in the developing player tier — showing enough early promise to earn a B- grade, but still building the résumé that separates a prospect from a proven commodity. For an offensive tackle, availability is everything, and those 17 games represent a foundation rather than a statement — the Saints will need to see him build on that baseline before conferring any real trust in high-leverage situations. What Banks does bring is the athleticism and length that made him a coveted prospect, with the physical tools to protect the blind side against speed rushers at the next level. His assignment in New Orleans is clear: absorb the playbook, develop technique under professional coaching, and demonstrate that his frame can hold up through the grind of a full NFL season. The Saints are investing in his ceiling, and if he can stay healthy and refine his hand placement and anchor in pass protection, there is legitimate starter upside here. Watch whether Banks can push toward meaningful regular-season snaps this year — sustained availability will be the clearest early indicator that his trajectory is pointed in the right direction.

How Kelvin Compares at the Position

Kelvin Banks Jr. ranks 38th of 189 graded offensive tackles by performance. That slots Kelvin between Trent Williams (B-) just ahead and Brian O'neill (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Recent headlines push Kelvin Banks Jr.'s sentiment grade to a B+, with New Orleans Saints' broader season shaping the read. Banks enters his second NFL season riding genuine momentum after a standout rookie campaign that earned him Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team honors—a rare institutional validation for a first-year offensive lineman that has reset expectations around his developmental trajectory. Media framing is uniformly positive, with beat reporters and analysts positioning his continued growth as central to the Saints' offensive identity, and fan sentiment mirrors that enthusiasm, reflecting measurable excitement about his long-term ceiling as a potential left tackle cornerstone. However, the sentimentContext flags a critical caveat: recent injury concerns have considerably tempered the bullish consensus, creating a divided perception where his legitimate talent credentials clash with durability questions that could define his career arc. The Saints' recent roster moves—adding defensive depth and linebacker Jackson Sirmon while trimming secondary depth—suggest organizational focus elsewhere, which subtly undercuts the narrative that Banks is a singular franchise priority. His performance grade of B- aligns with the measured optimism in the media; he's clearly a prospect worth betting on, but the sentiment sits firmly in positive-leaning-neutral territory until he proves he can remain consistently healthy and productive on the field.