The Houston Texans do not have any glaring holes on their roster, but they could still plug an underlying need with Caleb Banks in the 2026 draft.
Banks was one of the draft’s hottest names. A medical setback derailed his pre-draft momentum, raising red flags and potentially causing him to slide right into the Texans’ awaiting arms in the draft.
That is, if Houston feels good enough about his history and outlook.
Texans Urged to Draft Florida’s Caleb Banks
GettyCaleb Banks #88 of the Florida Gators celebrates a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers.
Banks was a popular speculative draft target for the Texans back in January, before a foot injury cut his final season with the Florida Gators short. Banks suffered another injury at the combine, fueling questions about his health.
USA Today’s Ayrton Ostly argued Banks is the “perfect prospect” for the Texans.
“Houston needs a big body in the middle of the defensive line to free up Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to wreak havoc on opposing offensive linemen,” Ostly wrote on April 17. “Banks brings size with impressive explosiveness for a player measuring in at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds. A foot injury at the combine could cause him to fall and the Texans may be able to sweep him up late in Round 1.”
The Texans pick 28th overall. They also have two second-round selections, including Pick No. 38, which they could use on Banks if he falls far enough or in a trade package to move up.
Banks is an older prospect in general, already 23, but gets the benefit of the doubt as an offensive lineman, where careers can extend deep into a player’s 30s. He has shown the talent to make it a worthwhile endeavor.
Houston has Sheldon Rankins and coaching staff darling Tommy Togiai.
They also signed Logan Hall in free agency to split time at end and tackle. Still, Banks could add the big-bodied presence and skill set the Texans still lack.
Caleb Banks Possesses Elite Traits
GettyCaleb Banks of the Florida Gators participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
The Texans’ decision to draft Banks would be much simpler were it not for his injury history, given what he has shown evaluators when healthy.
“Banks has a rare combination of size, raw power and big-man twitch, all of which lead to big-time flashes and glimpses of his ceiling,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote in his “The Beast” draft guide. “However, the absence of a healthy senior season complicates his projection, and his draft grade will depend on each team’s appetite for risk.”
Brugler ranked Banks the 54th-best prospect in the class, and the fourth at his position.
“Banks has All-Pro potential whether he’s playing on the inside in a four-man front or as defensive end in a base three-man front,” The Ringer’s Todd McShay wrote in his pre-draft profile. “There are no obvious comps here. Jordan Davis is bigger and even more explosive. Calais Campbell and DeForest Buckner were lighter coming out of college. That said, I do see shades of Chris Jones when he was coming out of Mississippi State in 2016.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Banks to Chicago Bears defensive tackle and Gervon Dexter Sr., who was a second-round pick in 2023. The Texans could be in a strong position to select Banks in the draft if the questions about his health remain prevalent.
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