Big Blue View
Banks ended his year with 3.5 sacks in two games
Looking ahead to 2026, it’s possible that the New York Giants could still need to upgrade their defensive line. While they should expect Dexter Lawrence and Darius Alexander to be the core of their interior defensive line, they could find themselves asking “but who else?”
We don’t yet know where the Giants will finish, nor how the draft board will ultimately shake out. There should, however, once again be several talented defensive linemen in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks has an intriguing blend of traits and skills that could be very attractive to the Giants.
(Banks is the Florida defensive tackle wearing number 88 and two white sleeves)
Banks is a big, long, and athletic defensive tackle who’s traits both make him a threat to the defense and a versatile piece for a defense. He measures an (estimated) 6-foot-6, 325 pounds and appears to have long arms. Banks carries his weight very well and is a surprisingly good athlete for a big lineman.
Banks size and strength allowed Florida to play him as an A-gap defender at 0 or 1-technique, while his athleticism let them play him as a B-gap defender at the 3, 4i, or 5-technique.
He features very good initial quickness as well as good agility and change of direction skills. Banks does a good job of timing the snap and has an explosive first step, which often allows him to be one of the very first players moving on either team. He has solid lower body flexibility and plays with good initial leverage, allowing him to get under blockers’ pads and maximize his play strength. At the same time, he has solid hand usage and is able to win with speed and technique. That allows Banks to attack blockers in differing ways and mix primary and counter moves.
Banks’ play strength and athleticism also allow him to be an effective run defender. He can either hold up blockers and allow linebackers to flow to the ball or attack gaps and disrupt behind the line of scrimmage.
He does a good job of using his length to his advantage and has a good feel for when to attack blockers’ bodies or hand fight to keep from getting engaged. His quickness and change of direction also allow him to disengage and be a factor in pursuit.
Banks has a very solid foundation thanks to his traits and technique, but there’s still room for growth.
To start, Banks needs to be more consistent with his leverage. There are a few too many plays where he pops upright after his second or third step, compromising his play strength. He can have a tendency to simply bounce off blockers rather than run through them if he plays upright.
He can also be a bit less predictable in his use of pass rush moves. He tends to rely...
