DT Caleb Banks
Getty
DT Caleb Banks
Just as theChicago Bears begin to zero in on draft needs, one potential target may be slipping away.
According todraft analyst Dane Brugler, former Florida Gators football defensive tackle Caleb Banks suffered a fractured foot at the NFL Scouting Combine and had surgery on March 9.
For a player once projected in the first round, it’s a brutal setback at the worst possible time, and one that could directly impact the Chicago Bears’ draft plans.
A potential first round option suddenly in question
DT Caleb Banks
GettyDT Caleb Banks
At 6’6” and roughly 327 pounds, Caleb Banks is a beast. Some mock drafts even projected him as high as the top 10, while others had him landing with the Chicago Bears at No. 25.
Pro Football Focus analyst Max Chadwick highlighted just how glaring the need is, and why Banks fits it:
“No Bears defensive tackle earned a 60.0 PFF overall grade this season. Banks played in only three games in 2025 at Florida due to a foot injury, but his 12% pressure rate since 2023 still ranked sixth among Power Four interior defenders over that stretch. He also has the second-largest wingspan ever recorded for a defensive tackle (85 3/4 inches).”
The fit is perfect. However, the broken foot dramatically changes the equation.
The injury reportedly occurred the night before Banks participated in on field testing at the combine… He still managed to complete a partial workout, running the 40 yard dash and participating in the vertical and broad jumps, before ending his session early.
Banks is expected to be sidelined until at least June now after surgery to repair a fracture in the fourth metatarsal. That timeline would keep him out of rookie workouts and potentially make him questionable for minicamp.
Foot injuries for players of Banks’ size are often viewed as a significant red flag during the draft process. When a 330 pound defensive lineman begins to develop recurring foot problems, teams tend to approach with caution.
And for a team like Chicago (which badly needs to hit on its first round pick), that risk may now be too much.
Things may still work out
DT Caleb Banks
GettyDT Caleb Banks
If the Chicago Bears use their first round pick on the defensive line, they likely need a player who can contribute sooner rather than later.
But while Caleb Banks may now be off the table at No. 25, that doesn’t necessarily mean Chicago’s interest would disappear entirely.
The Bears still hold a second round pick acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent DJ Moore to Chicago, a selection that currently sits around No. 60 overall. If Banks’ injury causes his draft stock to tumble into that range or beyond, the conversation could become very different.
At that point, a team could justify taking a chance on his upside while giving him time to develop and recover.
And in that scenario, the Bears could still end up with a player many once believed was worthy of a first round selection. For now, though, Chicago’s draft board may have just shifted.
With the 2026 draft approaching, the Bearsmay suddenly need to start looking elsewhere for the defensive line help they were hoping to find in the first round.