NFL teams would be making a big mistake if they drafted Kelvin Banks as a guard

The lead-up to the NFL combine and draft gives general managers, coaches, scouts, and other draft prognosticators the chance to go over every single prospect with a fine-tooth comb. And apparently that comb has found Kelvin Banks.

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Banks, a unanimous All-American, the Outland Trophy winner, and the Lombardi Award winner, is unquestionably one of the best to have suited up in burnt orange this century, and likely earned a place on the Longhorn offensive line Mount Rushmore thanks to his fantastic three seasons in Austin.

But a recent prospect ranking from highly-regarded draft expert Dane Brugler slotted Banks as the No. 22 overall prospect in the draft and OT3, both positions that are far lower than where Banks has previously ranked.

Brugler’s ranking was not a mock draft, and it’s more likely that a team picks Banks in the top half of the draft possibly before any other tackle due to need.

However, the drop in ranking seems to be part of a difficult-to-see notion that Banks is not tackle in the NFL despite his three-year resume that’s as sterling as any team could ask for.

Banks, Texas’ starting left tackle since he stepped on campus, was listed by the athletic department as 6-foot-4, 320 pounds. With programs often inflating measurements to some degree, it stands to reason that he’ll measure at just over 6-foot-3 when he’s flat-footed. The 320 pounds checks out, though he may go through the combine and pre-draft process slightly more svelte.

Because of this, teams may try to turn Banks into a guard. It would be a mistake to do so to start out his career.

Banks has provided elite play on the quarterback’s blind side in Austin and has done so since he excelled against first-round picks Will Anderson, Tyree Wilson, Will McDonald, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah as a freshman in 2022. More and more defensive lineman tried to make things work against Banks, but they met similar fates and were capably blocked.

The eye in the sky don’t lie, as the saying goes. And anyone who looks at what Banks looks like as opposed to what he’s done on the field is missing how he’s been one of the best at the position in recent years despite less than ideal measurables. Is he short compared to other tackles, especially the 6-foot-6 Will Campbell and the 6-foot-5 Josh Simmons? Absolutely. But did he block the pass-rusher and clear paths for running backs at a higher level than those two? Absolutely.

Banks is a worthy exception to whatever rules teams may have or what they feel about Bill Parcells’ quote about filling a team with exceptions. He does his job better than any other O-lineman in the draft in spite of not looking like the other O-linemen. His quickness and technical acumen, something that was immediately clear when he first lined up at left tackle protecting Quinn Ewers, overcomes any concerns about his size.

Banks’ detractors can look to another Kelvin for why they should keep him at tackle. Longtime NFL tackle Kelvin Beachum, who graduated from SMU after playing his prep days at Mexia (Texas), is listed at 6-foot-3 and 308 by the Arizona Cardinals. He measured 6-foot-2 7/8 at the combine. Yet he’s enjoyed a 13-year career in the NFL.

NFL decision-makers shouldn’t let the moves made by Samuel Cosmi to right guard or Connor Williams to center during their professional careers lead them to trying to do the same thing to Banks. It appears to be trending that direction, and that direction would be a mistake.

Matthew Golden was the No. 27 overall prospect and the No. 4 wide receiver behind Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, Missouri’s Luther Burden, and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka.

Jahdae Barron, a consensus All-American and the Thorpe Award winner, was the No. 40 overall prospect.

Alfred Collins earned his place in the top 50 to give Texas four in Brugler’s highest esteem. He was the No. 47 overall prospect.

Texas occupied the Nos. 63 and 64 spots thanks to Cameron Williams and Gunnar Helm. Two more Longhorns made the list: Isaiah Bond at No. 94 and Andrew Mukuba at No. 97.

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Brugler’s top overall prospect was Travis Hunter followed by Abdul Carter, Jalon Walker, Mason Graham, and Ashton Jeanty.