The Pick Is In: Vikings Build the Trenches in the First Round
The Minnesota Vikings entered the draft with the 18th overall pick. They passed on safety Dillon Thieneman, who everyone expected to go purple. A trade was also not facilitated by GM Rob Brzezinski.
No, the Vikings stayed put and drafted Florida’s defensive tackle, Caleb Banks.
For the second consecutive year, the Vikings pick a lineman. Last year, the franchise selected offensive guard Donovan Jackson with the 24th overall pick. Jackson will get to see a lot of new defender Banks in practice.
Banks is a controversial player, as he missed all but three games in 2025 due to a foot injury and he suffered another foot injury a couple of months ago. A large human being (327 lbs) with injury concerns is certainly alarming. On the flip side, that shows Banks’ potential.
Matt Baker of The Athletic commented after the pick: “It was easy to see why Banks entered last season with buzz as a potential top-20 pick. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound Michigan native has the frame and athleticism you’d expect from a top draft prospect, and he was coming off a breakout 2024 (seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles).”
Banks is the first defensive tackle drafted by the Vikings in the first three rounds since Sharrif Floyd was picked in the top round in 2013. He’s Minnesota’s highest-drafted defensive tackle since Kevin Williams in 2003.
Defensive tackle was one of Minnesota’s priorities in this year’s class. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the two 2025 free agency adds, were released last month, creating a massive hole in the middle of Brian Flores’ defense. It’s fitting that a massive athlete was acquired to fill it.
Lindsey Young of Vikings.com wrote, “Listed at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Banks boasted the longest wingspan at the NFL Combine, measuring a whopping 7 feet, 1.75 inches. That wingspan landed in the 99th percentile for defensive tackles and is the longest recorded at the combine since 1999.”
Aside from the foot injury, Minnesota’s newest player is also regarded as inconsistent. Last year, Banks played in three games, recording six tackles (one for loss). In the previous year, the defender recorded 4.5 sacks and 7 tackles for loss in 12 games.
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) noted in his pre-draft breakdown, “Banks is a towering athlete with the fluid athleticism and unique physical traits to be impactful against the pass and the run. He is long and strong enough to claim early wins when he stays disciplined in his initial attack. But his taller stature can zap his power and take him out of plays, as he allows blockers to out-leverage him and stay attached. He leaves too much production on the field, although his tackling should improve with better conditioning.”
He’ll now have to overcome his injury. Banks is expected to be fully cleared for football activities in June and should be ready for training camp in July.
The Vikings needed to find a running mate for last year’s breakout player, Jalen Redmond. Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins are the next men in the rotation.
On Day 2 of the draft, the Vikings have three picks (one in the second and two in the third), which should allow them to fill other holes such as center, safety, and cornerback. In total, the Vikings have nine picks in this year’s three-day event, a good sign after only adding five players in 2025.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.