The Minnesota Vikings invested their first-round pick, No. 18 overall, on former Florida Gators defensive tackle Caleb Banks. Nonetheless, the decision to go with Banks was a little concerning, given his injury.
Still, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter provided an update on the concern teams likely had about Banks’ foot.
“NFL teams received a letter this week stating that, after a CT scan on Tuesday, Banks is ‘on pace to be fully cleared for full football activities in early June’ as he recovers from a surgically repaired bone in his left foot,” Schefter wrote on X on April 23.
As a result, the Vikings felt comfortable making the selection. During a 1-on-1 interview with KFAN’s Paul Allen, Banks shared what defensive coordinator Brian Flores told him as he works his way back from injury.
“He just told me to come in and put my head down,” Banks told Allen in a video posted on the Vikings’ YouTube channel on April 24. “We’ll get to that point when we get there, but he really wants me to work right now, work my tail off so I can get back fully healthy and be out there to dominate and be there for the guys. He also told me I could play anywhere on that defensive line, so it’s going to be fun.”
During his three seasons with the Gators, Banks played 27 games, recording 46 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two fumbles recovered, and two forced fumbles, per Sports Reference.
Vikings HC Shares True Thoughts on Caleb Banks Selection
After selecting Banks on April 23, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke with the media and shared his thoughts on why Minnesota opted to go with the defensive tackle.
“Excited about adding a player of Caleb’s talent,” O’Connell told reporters. “Really felt like we were able to identify a player with the ceiling, you know, what we believe to be a top-10-caliber talent and difference-maker, potentially, you know, in a place where we really wanted to add some size and youth to that defensive line.”
Why Minnesota Was Comfortable With Caleb Banks Pick
Moreover, O’Connell shared the reason the team was also comfortable making the Banks selection despite the injury concerns that limited the player to three games last season for Florida.
“Between [Brian Flores] and Ryan Nielsen, and their excitement about the player, and the way we used the process from the combine formal to the 30 visit, to Ryan Nielsen spending some time with him down at the University of Florida, we felt that, combined with the fact that medically we feel strongly about where Caleb is not only at right now, after really getting that thing totally fixed up and having the type of medical team here, surgeon-wise and orthopedic surgeon-wise, we have some of the best in the world,” O’Connell added.
“A lot of people around the league come to some of our folks, specifically in regard to foot and ankle issues. And we spent a lengthy amount of time making sure we all felt really good about it so that Caleb can come here with the excitement that we have for him.”
Vikings Caleb Banks Reveals Strong Message From Brian Flores