Analyst Who Accurately Called Lewis Cine & Andrew Booth to MIN Predicts Vikings 2026 Pick
His stock has cooled because of injury over the last month, but not long ago, Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks was considered a 1st-Round shoo-in. And according to NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, who accurately predicted that the Vikings would draft Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth to start the 2022 NFL Draft, Banks will join Minnesota’s depth chart at Pick No. 18 in two weeks.
A familiar mock-draft voice has the Vikings targeting defense again in 2026.
Cine and Booth were not ironclad locks for Minnesota’s draft choices four years ago, but Reuter nailed it regardless.
Banks and Ponds Would Continue Minnesota’s Defensive Draft Trend
Cross out your Dillon Thieneman mock drafts for a day, and explore Banks.
Reuter: Banks to MIN in R1
Banks has fallen off the Vikings’ Round 1 mock draft radar, but Reuter evidently isn’t buying it. He wrote about Banks to Minnesota, “Banks is a run stuffer with the ability to get in the face (and passing lanes) of opposing quarterbacks. Solid long-term investment for Minnesota’s D-line.”
In this edition, the Vikings notable passed on tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who was picked by the Carolina Panthers at No. 19.
The aforementioned Thieneman, the Vikings’ main mock draft darling, wound up with the Chicago Bears at No. 25.
The Banks Scouting Report
Standing at 6’6″ and weighing 330 pounds, Banks immediately commands attention. At 23, his fully developed physique and strength suggest a smoother transition into an NFL program.
Beyond his imposing physical attributes, Banks demonstrates impressive skills. He explodes off the line with exceptional quickness, frequently defeating interior blockers with his initial burst. This, combined with his powerful hands and natural strength, allows him to collapse the pocket and disrupt quarterbacks before plays develop.
His statistics support his on-field performance. Over 34 games at Louisville and Florida, he recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, showcasing his ability to pressure the quarterback while remaining a stout run defender.
The Ringer’s Todd McShay on Banks: “Banks is one of the most talented players and one of the top defensive tackle prospects in this class. Concerns about his durability will hurt his draft stock, but he still has a chance to be the first Florida defensive lineman drafted in the first round since Taven Bryan in 2018.”
“Foot injuries have raised concerns about his long-term durability, but Banks possesses a rare blend of size, length, and lower-body explosiveness. He had the longest arms of any defensive tackle at the combine (and the rest of his testing numbers were equally impressive), and he uses that length to press blockers off his frame.”
The Vikings haven’t drafted a defensive tackle in Round 1 since Sharrif Floyd in 2013.
McShay added, “He can track the ball and disengage in time to make plays. He’s also quick, he slips blocks, and he disrupts plays in the backfield. He does play high, but he’s big and strong enough to get away with it most of the time. He has some upside as a pass rusher.”
The Other Draft Choices from Reuter
Reuter’s mock draft included five rounds; here’s the full haul for Minnesota:
- Round 1: Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
- Round 2: D’Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana)
- Round 3: Genesis Smith (S, Arizona)
- Round 3: Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
- Round 5: Demond Claiborne (RB, Wake Forest)
If Reuter follows up his 2022 masterclass prediction of nailing Cine and Booth, Banks and Ponds will be Vikings within the next two weeks.
Minnesota has also strongly hinted that it will draft a rookie center, so the Hecht pick makes sense, too.
The Vikings hosted Claiborne, the Round 5 running back, for a pre-draft visit last month.
What’s Missing from the Mock?
Reuter’s forecast is missing one thing, which he’d evidently leave for Round 7, where the Vikings have three selections: a wide receiver.
Minnesota let Jalen Nailor leave last month in free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders, and the only WR3-in-waiting right now is Tai Felton, who barely played as a rookie in 2025. Assuming the Vikings draft no WRs in Rounds 1 through 5, they may have to pursue a free agent like DeAndre Hopkins, Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, or Deebo Samuel, all unsigned in early April.
Banks ranks No. 37 on the Consensus Big Board — the same territory where the Vikings’ 1st-Round pick last year lived: Donovan Jackson, No. 39.
If Minnesota wants a defensive tackle, but Banks is not the preference, the other key names to know are Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Christen Miller (Georgia), and Lee Hunter (Texas Tech).
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