Feb. 3, 2026, 1:27 p.m. ET

Former Florida football defensive tackle Caleb Banks is projected to be selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with the No. 22 pick, according to ESPN’s latest 2026 NFL mock draft.

According to analyst Matt Miller, his reasoning is pretty straightforward: the Chargers need more of a true anchor on the defensive line, and Banks fits the mold as a nose tackle who can hold ground against the run while still bringing some juice as a power rusher.

Banks is listed at 6-feet-6-inches and 339 pounds, and Miller describes him as an “aggressive bull rusher” with rare first-step quickness for a guy built like that.

Banks’ most recent season with the Gators didn’t look normal on paper because he was limited to two games due to a foot injury. That’s the type of thing that can quietly stall a prospect’s momentum, especially when draft cycles move as fast as they do. But that’s also where the Senior Bowl comes in.

His week in Mobile, Alabama, was well-received by scouts, and it sounds like the practices helped reintroduce him as a disruptor instead of “the injured guy who missed time.”

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Banks still has plenty of runway left in the pre-draft process, and his medicals and testing will matter a ton. But getting slotted in the first round, even in a mock, is the kind of headline that sticks. It puts Banks firmly in the “name to know” tier as draft talk heats up.

Why ESPN has the Chargers drafting Banks

“The run on edge rushers before this pick leaves the Chargers with some interesting decisions. Do they add to an offensive line that was marred by injury in 2025 or try to fix a D-line that still needs a true anchor to help defend the run?

“With the talent that’s left on the board, Banks would be very enticing as the nose tackle Los Angeles is missing. The 6-foot-6, 339-pounder is an aggressive bull rusher with rare first-step quickness for his size. Think Vita Vea, but with better length. Banks missed all but two games last season due to a foot injury, but his Senior Bowl performance was well-received by scouts, who saw the explosive play in the trenches that excited them entering the 2025 season.”

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