With the NFL Draft less than a week away, talk about which selections each team will make continues to grow. After trading for Jaylen Waddle in March, the Denver Broncos don’t have any first-round picks in this year’s draft but will make their first pick at No. 62 overall in the second round. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Denver taking Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“With a pretty deep roster, the Broncos can afford to take a bit of a risk. Banks’ talent is more in line with Round 1, but he is dealing with yet another foot injury, which could keep him on the board until the middle part of Day 2,” Kiper wrote. “Banks is a disruptive presence on the interior, and he can stuff the run at 6-6 and 327 pounds. With John Franklin-Myers leaving in free agency, coordinator Vance Joseph could use someone like Banks on the inside.” Here’s more information on the defensive tackle who may slide to the Broncos in the second round.

Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology (Southfield, Michigan) — Class of 2021

Banks is from Detroit and attended Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology in Southfield, Michigan. At Southfield, A&T Banks recorded 42 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and three sacks. 

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound defensive tackle was rated a three-star recruit and top 30 defensive lineman in Michigan according to 247sports. Banks was also a two-time captain and an SI All-American Candidate in 2020.

Louisville (2021-2022)

After originally committing to Arizona State, Banks decommitted and later committed to Louisville to play for Scott Satterfield. As a freshman at Louisville, Banks redshirted but also made his collegiate debut against Syracuse on Nov. 13, 2021. 

During his next and final season with the Cardinals, Banks earned more playing time, appearing in six games and recording his first career sack and fumble against Wake Forest on Oct. 29, 2022. 

 

Florida (2023-2025)

Following his sophomore season at Louisville, Satterfield left the team to become the head coach at Cincinnati. As a result, Banks entered the transfer portal after the season and found a new home a few weeks later, deciding to transfer to Florida to play for Billy Napier. 

In his first season with the Gators, Banks played in every game and started in 11 games, recording 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. Banks made more tackles in his second season at Florida after making 21 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 10 starts. 

The final season of Banks’ career at Florida wasn’t the prettiest, as he played only three games as a senior after dealing with injuries all season, and two of those were the final games of the season. Banks tallied six tackles in his last season. 

Malcolm Roach, D.J. Jones, and Jordan Miller are the Broncos current defensive tackles on their roster. If Denver isn’t as concerned about Banks’ injuries as Kiper is, it would be a great opportunity for him to learn from Roach and Jones.

Banks could also compete with Miller to find his way into the regular rotation next season, especially if he remains healthy, as the Broncos need as much depth and talent as possible at the defensive tackle position after losing John Franklin-Myers, who was one of their most talented defensive players last season.