Somehow, a Pretty Major Vikings Development is Flying Under the Radar

Somehow, a Pretty Major Vikings Development is Flying Under the Radar K. Joudry | Published : Nov 11, 2026 Follow Us Facebook Twitter Reddit WhatsApp Email Copy Link Copy Link Link Copied Under normal circumstances, people would be concerned about a 1st-Round selection getting benched for a Week 9 Monday Night Football game. What would usually get ample attention — not even dressing DT Caleb Banks — has been overshadowed by the putrid play at quarterback and the solution to such an issue . Do note, though, that sitting Banks is indeed a pretty major Vikings move. To be sure, the young lad still has a long way to go in his NFL career. Any discussion about him being a bust or anything close to that is therefore flawed. Give him more time and the possibility remains out there that he’ll develop into being a very good player. Still, there’s room to hold two things in tension: Banks isn’t a bust but he’s nevertheless a disappointment so far in the 2026 season. A Fairly Major Vikings Move: Sitting DT Caleb Banks Choosing the massive defensive lineman at No. 18 in the 2026 NFL Draft arrived as quite the surprise for seemingly everyone. At the time, I was in Minnesota to cover the draft. I spoke to Kevin O’Connell at the coach’s presser after the decision got made ( presser ). How did the coach respond to the idea that Banks is raw and in need of further refinement? That was my question. He seemed to bristle at the characterization, instead re-framing the “raw” descriptor into the young lad showing “flashes.” Minnesota, per O’Connell, was lucky to get him at No. 18 since those moments of football brilliance would have pushed Banks into the top ten had they characterized his play rather than just being scattered moments. Maybe O’Connell is exactly right. What’s objectively true, however, is that these flashes have yet to arrive in any meaningful way for the rookie. Caleb Banks has been involved in seven games while starting zero. His stats show 12 tackles alongside 1 tackle for loss. He has offered these statistics within 107 snaps for Brian Flores. On PFF, a flawed assessment tool but still a data point, there’s an awful 30.5 grade assigned to Banks. So, not great. Minnesota’s defensive line boasts Jalen Redmond as a certified stud and weekly difference maker. The Vikings’ DT1 is being supported by DT2 Levi Drake Rodriguez and DT3 Ty Ingram-Dawkins as the other starters. Both of these lads have put together some good snaps and games more broadly. Combined, the trio of defensive line starters are tough to corral. Shouldn’t there still be more coming from Caleb Banks? Where’s that mismatch potential as a 5-technique who is going to be a nightmare to block in a one-on-one setting? Where’s the swagger and compete that was promised? The Vikings intentionally opted to move ahead with a youth movement along the defensive line in the spring, moving on from pricey veterans in free agency to promote in-house youngsters while looking to the draft for reinforcements. The returning talent has been holding up its end of the bargain but the top pick hasn’t been. 3rd-Round nose tackle Domonique Orange has been a mixed bag and has been bullied more than he’s used to in the trenches. He’s still playing, though. Plus, he’s a run-stuffing No. 82 pick rather than a high-flying No. 18 pick, so he’s working through more modest expectations. On a personal level, I really like Caleb Banks. He’s charming, goofy, and down to earth. And, again, the suggestion here isn’t that the young fella who loves reptiles is predestined to disappoint for the remainder of his NFL career. There’s no persuasive case to be made that that’s going to be the case. Give the kid the time he needs to continue developing. But while all of these things are true, Caleb Banks still needs to respond to what was a humbling setback in the early moments of his NFL career. Most teams expect at least a depth contributor from a rookie 1st-Round selection. Minnesota was assuredly among the teams thinking that its opening-round selection would be somebody who could offer quality snaps, if only on a part-time basis. Keep an eye on the Vikings’ game decisions for Week 10 in Green Bay. Seeing him again kept out of his helmet and shoulder pads would be reason to start growing concerned. Discover more from Vikings Territory Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe By K. Joudry Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.