Let’s talk about Kelvin Banks.
Someone needs to, after all.
The New Orleans Saints rookie left tackle has been one of the bright spots in the Saints' 1-4 start to the 2025 season. He’s been arguably the team’s best and most consistent offensive player through five games. And yet, few seemingly have noticed.
Rookie classmates Tyler Shough, Jonas Sanker and even Quincy Riley have garnered more attention so far this season, which might speak to how well Banks has played. After all, no news is generally good news for offensive tackles.
The lack of recognition is unusual for a top-10 draft pick, but the humble Banks couldn't care less. He prefers to operate under the radar and out of the spotlight.
“100 percent,” he said Wednesday. “I’m not really into all that. I just try to mind my business and get my job done.”
Banks has certainly done his job so far. Thrust immediately into the starting lineup, he hasn’t missed a snap in five games and has allowed just one sack in 199 pass-rush sets, according to Pro Football Focus.
Banks is coming off his best game of the season. Going against elite Giants edge rushers Abdul Carter and Brian Burns, he allowed zero sacks and just one pressure in 32 pass-rush snaps. It was the kind of performance the Saints were hoping they’d get from Banks when they selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 draft.
“He’s just steady,” Saints head coach Kellen Moore said. “He's quiet, and he does his work. He's very detailed in what he does. I just thought he had some tremendous sets in that past rush situations in this past game. … It was just really clean.”
For what it’s worth, Banks’ blocking grades are only mediocre, via Pro Football Focus. He ranks fourth among rookie tackles in overall blocking, trailing New England’s Will Campbell, Kansas City’s Josh Simmons and Armand Membou of the New York Jets. Overall, Banks ranks 39th of 58 tackles who have played at least 50% of their team’s snaps this season.
But the Saints aren’t concerned with PFF grades. They’re more than happy with his performance so far.
“All around, he’s just a dawg,” quarterback Spencer Rattler said. “Smart. Tough. Athletic. Special player.”
Banks’ performance has been even more impressive when you consider the competition he’s faced and how little help he’s had in blocking them. He’s matched up with some of the top edge rushers in the league, including Carter, Burns, Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa and Montez Sweat. And for the most part, he’s been left on an island to block them. Banks has been left to one-on-one blocking assignments 72% of the time, more than any tackle in the league so far, according to PFF.
"He has some things you can’t coach, and he plays to his strengths really well," veteran guard Cesar Ruiz said of the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Banks. "I just love watching him excel right now.”
Banks said he is looking forward to seeing fellow rookie left tackle Campbell this weekend when the Saints entertain the Patriots. Campbell, the former LSU All-American, and Banks traveled similar paths to the NFL. Both were ranked among the top tackle prospects in the high school class of 2022, and both played in the Under Armor All-American game. During the recruiting process, Campbell even tried to lure Banks to LSU before the Humble, Texas, product picked the Longhorns.
“We know each other and have kept in touch over the years,” Banks said. “I have a lot of respect for him as a player.”
Banks is quick to point out that he has areas to improve on, in particular as a run blocker. He’s far from a finished product. But the potential, especially when paired with promising second-year right tackle Taliese Fuaga, is enticing. As the Saints rebuild their roster to return to the competitive ranks, the tackle spots look set for the foreseeable future. Banks looks like cornerstone of the future.
“He’s impressive,” former Saints tackle Terron Armstead said of Banks earlier this year. “He has elite traits. His set, his get-off is consistent. His feet, small steps and great balance. His contact balance is incredible. His strike timing is (impressive) to see as a rookie. He and Taliese Fuaga are very impressive as a young tackle tandem."
Some fans criticized the Saints for taking Banks so highly in the draft. Despite winning the Outland and Lombardi trophies as the top offensive lineman in college football, he lacked name recognition to many casual fans. After seeing the Saints select offensive or defensive linemen in Rounds 1 or 2 for the previous seven seasons, the fan base might have also had trench fatigue.
After watching Banks get off to such a dominant start, no one is complaining now.