The Minnesota Vikings took a major gamble when they selected Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. So far, the first-round selection has struggled to make an impact.
General manager Nolan Teasley was not with the Vikings during the draft. The team hired him about a month later, after previously dismissing former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski approved the pick, despite Banks having missed all but three games of his final season at Florida because of a foot injury.
Banks was widely viewed as one of the 2026 draft class’s most promising interior pass-rushers. However, some analysts questioned whether Minnesota took him too early, given his size and injury history. The injury also put him behind during offseason workouts, training camp and preseason, and he entered the season needing to improve his conditioning and technique. The Vikings recently made him a healthy scratch for their Monday night game against the Buffalo Bills.
## Banks’ Status Raises Questions About Minnesota’s Draft Decisions
Banks’ benching has drawn less attention than other developments in Minnesota, including quarterback Kirk Cousins’ return after the Vikings traded a 2027 third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for him. Still, Banks’ situation matters as the team evaluates its recent first-round decisions.
The Vikings traded quarterback JJ McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024, for a fifth-round selection. McCarthy is 2-1 as the New York Giants’ starter and has played reasonably well, making the trade an early point of concern for Teasley, who made the deal. Minnesota also gave up a Day 2 pick to acquire Cousins, who is 38 and playing on a one-year contract. The Vikings could have pursued him in free agency earlier in the year.
Teasley did not make either the McCarthy or Banks draft selection, but he was responsible for the McCarthy trade. If Minnesota has already lost confidence in Banks, it could add to concerns about the team moving on quickly from high-potential, early-round players.
## Report Says Vikings’ View of Banks Has Worsened
Banks’ healthy scratch was a coaching decision, likely involving defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and the defensive tackle could still earn his way back into the rotation. However, NFL reporter Tony Pauline said on Friday, November 13, that the Vikings’ front office had gone from questioning the pick to disliking Banks.
The report comes as Banks’ on-field production remains limited. He has played 107 defensive snaps across seven games, recording 12 combined tackles, one tackle for loss and no sacks. He is in the first year of a contract worth $21 million.
Keeping the situation private and helping Banks improve could give Minnesota the best chance to repair the relationship and get production from its 2026 first-round pick. A stronger stretch of play could also preserve his value if the team considers a move later. Whether Banks returns to the lineup is a storyline to watch, though Cousins’ return and the offense’s performance are likely to dominate attention in the weeks ahead.
