Vikings pick Caleb Banks at 18, hope he's ready for season
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- The Minnesota Vikings selected Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft despite Banks having suffered two left foot fractures in the past year, including one requiring surgery after the NFL scouting combine.
- Banks is projected to be ready to resume football activities by June, with the Vikings expressing confidence in their medical staff's assessment and aiming to have him prepared for the regular season.
- Banks was ranked much lower on several ESPN draft boards due to injury concerns, but Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell and interim GM Rob Brzezinski praised Banks as a top-10 talent and a unique opportunity despite the risks.
- The Vikings' decision marks a continuation of a recent aggressive approach to drafting players with injury histories, a strategy initiated by former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, though Brzezinski emphasized thorough medical evaluation before the pick.
- Banks aims to reduce his playing weight to lessen foot strain and is motivated to recover fully, with the Vikings confident he was the best player available at their draft position in a defensive line–thin draft class.
