Minnesota Vikings select Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with No. 18 pick in 2026 NFL Draft

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft.The Minnesota Vikings selected Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 18th pick of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was the first defensive tackle chosen.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). But a foot injury limited him to only three games in 2025 — including the final two contests of the Gators’ lost season — and restricted his testing during the NFL scouting process.Advertisement