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Florida DL Caleb Banks included in ESPN's early 2026 first-round NFL mock draft

IMG_6615by:Blake Alderman•05/01/25•

Blake_Alderman

Caleb Banks
(© Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Though the 2025 NFL Draft just recently passed, it’s never too early to look ahead to next year. The college football season is only 150 days away from ‘Week 0’ games. However, there are already popular names getting looks from NFL scouts ahead of the season. ESPN’s Jordan Reid released an early first-round NFL Draft Mock for 2026. There are also 12 full months for teams to study potential draft picks before we get to next year’s draft. So much can and will likely change from now to then.

In this Mock, Reid notes he did not make the draft order for it. The order of these teams doesn’t reflect who he thinks will make the playoffs or who will go to the Super Bowl. To generate the order, Reid simply took the inverse of Super Bowl odds from ESPN. Reid also used the 2024 standings to ensure the appropriate number of teams from each conference are in the playoff slots.

ESPN’s 2026 Mock Draft includes one Florida Gator being selected in the first round. Defensive lineman Caleb Banks has been a popular name in early first-round Mocks for the 2026 draft. Sports Illustrated had Banks going No. 17 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. CBS Sports even had Banks projected as high as No. 4 overall to the New York Jets in its 2026 Mock Draft. ESPN has aligned thinking with other publications, and has Banks projected to the Cincinnati Bengals at pick No. 25.

“The Bengals surprisingly did not address defensive tackle in this year’s draft, so it looms as a huge need entering 2026,” wrote Reid. “They need someone with Banks’ great 6-foot-6, 325-pound size in the middle of the line. He showed flashes last season, and if he can continue to progress in 2025 and increase his sack total (4.5), he has the traits to be a top-20 pick.”

During the 2024 season, Banks finished with 10 starts, 21 tackles (10 solo), including seven tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a recovered fumble in 12 games. Since arriving to Florida, Banks has made 21 starts in 24 appearances at Florida. Totaling 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, and 5.5 sacks.

Banks looks to build off a strong 2024 season

Caleb Banks had a chance to be a high pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the redshirt senior announced his return to Florida this past December. His best performances of the season came in wins over LSU and Ole Miss. In the win over the Tigers, Banks accounted for seven QB pressures, tied for the most among all DTs in Week 12, and received his highest PFF grade of the season (77.4). He made three tackles (two solo), a five-yard sack, and forced and recovered a fumble. Banks followed up that performance with seven QB pressures again vs. the Rebels, the most among all defensive tackles in Week 13. He recorded career highs in tackles-for-loss (3.5) and sacks (2.5).

On3’s College Ratings has Caleb Banks as the No. 55 overall player ahead of the 2025 season.

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