Caleb Banks Scouting Report

Caleb Banks is an agile, athletic IDL who can also play on the edges of the defense, showing good instincts rushing the quarterback.

Draft Grade: Round 3 - Adequate Starter

Strengths:

Length: At 6-foot-6, Banks appears to have exceptional length for an interior defensive lineman. This length expands his range and allows him to be impactful in both the run game and as a pass rusher.

Athleticism: Banks is a fluid athlete for an interior defensive lineman, showing good first-step quickness and the ability to move laterally with efficiency. His athletic ability also allows him to play on the perimeter and take reps at edge defender. He can flow in one direction, then plant and redirect when needed.

Alignment Versatility: Banks’ physical tools and skill set project him as an alignment-versatile option for NFL defenses. His combination of quickness, fluid movement, and length allows him to play on the interior while also providing value as an edge rusher on select reps, depending on down and distance.

Pass-Rush Upside: When scouting Banks, his first-step quickness and overall athleticism show clear upside as a pass rusher. He gets off the ball quickly and works upfield to beat offensive linemen to the quarterback. Even when he does not reach the quarterback, his length remains disruptive, as passers can feel and see his presence. With proper development, Banks can become an impactful interior pass rusher at the NFL level.

Concerns:

Pad Level/Leverage: Because Banks is a taller interior defensive lineman, he can naturally lose the leverage battle. When Banks plays too high, he gives blockers a larger target area to strike and establish their hands, which can limit his effectiveness in the run game and, at times, as a pass rusher.

Run Defense: Tied to his pad-level issues, Banks can occasionally struggle in run defense when he loses leverage. When tasked with sustaining the line of scrimmage and holding the point of attack, he can be driven off the ball by powerful offensive linemen with good leverage. This may push him toward more edge usage on early run downs.

Injury: Banks missed most of the 2025 season with a lower-body injury.