Even after breaking his foot at the NFL Combine in February, which required surgery, Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks continues to be considered a potential first-round prospect ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
NFL.com's Chad Reuter slotted Banks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round in his latest mock draft, a four-round projection that also included Gators offensive tackle Austin Barber going No. 43 overall in the second round to the Miami Dolphins.
Reuter offered the following analysis for keeping Banks in the first-round conversation and sending him to the Buccaneers:
The Buccaneers may very well overlook Banks' recent foot injury -- which reportedly will sideline him until June -- because few humans possess his combination of size (6-foot-6, 327 pounds, 35-inch arms) and agility. Alongside Vita Vea, Banks will form a wall in the run game and provide some interior pass rush that'll make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Vea is a free agent next year, so a healthy Banks could fill those huge shoes, if needed, in the Bucs' defensive front.
Despite suffering the injury before beginning his workout, Banks emerged as one of the NFL Combine's stars this offseason, impressing coaches, scouts and media members in attendance with stellar results in the 40-yard dash (5.04 seconds), vertical jump (32 inches) and broad jump (114 inches), among other tests, while standing at just over 6-foot-6, 327 pounds.
The performance solidified Banks' standing as a potential first-round NFL Draft prospect, even though he was unable to complete the workout.
Still, this ailment marks Banks' third foot injury in the last year. He missed the first two games of Florida's 2025 campaign after hurting his foot during the team's fall training camp last August, and re-injured it in his season debut against LSU in September.
While Banks' September injury, which also required surgery, was originally considered longer-term in nature, he managed to return to Florida's defensive lineup for the final two games of the season. Banks logged six total tackles with one for loss and one fumble recovery over three appearances in 2025, all starts, adding two quarterback pressures and two defensive stops (tackles that constitute a failed play for the offense), per Pro Football Focus.
Banks enjoyed a breakout season on the Gators' defensive front in 2024. He produced 21 tackles including seven for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one defended pass, and per PFF, a team-leading 29 quarterback pressures and 13 defensive stops. He finished the year with a 73.0 overall defensive grade from PFF, earning 67.9 run defense and 73.2 pass rush marks.
In his college career, between three seasons at Florida and two at Louisville, Banks posted 48 tackles with 10.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one defended pass, one fumble recovery, 59 quarterback pressures and 21 defensive stops.
Barber, too, put together an impressive workout at the NFL Combine, leading to his second-round projection by Reuter. Standing at just under 6-foot-7, 318 pounds, Barber posted a 5.12-second 50-yard dash, a 32-inch vertical jump and a 111-inch broad jump during the Combine.
Barber spent five seasons at Florida and earned Third-Team All-SEC recognition following his final campaign with the Gators, in which he allowed three sacks and 17 quarterback pressures in pass protection, according to PFF, and posted a 90.0 (out of 100) season-long run blocking grade from the outlet, the highest mark of his career in that category.
Barber logged over 2,500 offensive snaps as a member of Florida's offensive line, including 2,087 at left tackle and 490 at right tackle. He started in 38 of his 50 career appearances with the Gators, dating back to his true freshman season.