The Minnesota Vikings went with defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the No. 18 pick, even with the health concerns that came with selecting the former Florida Gators star. Nonetheless, 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.
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.”
Vikings Comfortable Drafting Caleb Banks Despite Injury Concern
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.”
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.
Caleb Banks Fills Major Need for Minnesota
Banks fills a major need in the interior defensive line after the departures of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. As a result, Minnesota now has some depth behind Jalen Redmond.
“We feel really good about not only Jalen Redmond but the rest of the young guys in that room that now we get to add, you know, a guy with a ton of upside,” O’Connell said. “… Quite honestly, as coaches, we can’t wait to coach this player.
“He loves football, wants to be coached hard and ultimately believes that the Minnesota Vikings are a great place for him to come and try to maximize who he is as a player, not only now but where we think he can take this thing throughout his career with the type of talent and ability that he has.”
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