Where ESPN projects Florida football DT Caleb Banks in 2026 NFL draft

Former Florida football defensive tackle Caleb Banks is projected as a second-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts with the 47th overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

Banks underwent a foot procedure that limited him to just three games for the Gators last season, leaving NFL evaluators with limited recent tape to work from. Yates acknowledged that uncertainty directly, noting the Florida defensive tackle could be off the board well before Indianapolis picks at No. 47.

The range in his draft stock is a product of the injury, not his ability.

When healthy, the case for Banks is easy to make. At 6-feet-6-inches and 327 pounds with 35-inch arms, he brings the kind of size and length that NFL teams look for at defensive tackle. Yates specifically pointed to his pass-rushing upside as a reason for the projection, with those long arms giving him natural tools to disrupt opposing quarterbacks at the next level.

If Banks gets fully healthy heading into draft weekend and impresses scouts during Thursday's Pro Day at UF, don't be surprised if his name is called earlier than the second round.

Here is why Yates thinks Banks gets drafted by the Colts at No. 47 in the 2026 NFL draft.

What ESPN said about Banks

"Could Banks be long gone before this? It's possible, but Banks recently underwent a foot procedure and was limited to just three games in 2025. He's 6-6 and 327 pounds and has 35-inch arms to give him pass-rushing upside. With 32-year-old DeForest Buckner returning from a neck injury, the Colts need youth at defensive tackle."

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Where ESPN projects Florida football DT Caleb Banks in 2026 NFL draft