Kelvin Banks Jr. draft projections: NFL mock drafts, updated rankings for Texas OL
The NFL draft is a little more than 24 hours away and Texas football is set to unleash a bevy of picks onto the league.
Perhaps the first of up to a dozen or more Longhorns to be drafted will be decorated offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Banks Jr., a unanimous first-team All-American, still seems like a lock to be picked on the first day of the NFL draft, now the only question is how long will he wait.
Advertisement
Once seen a top-10 pick, experts vary in their predictions, with some seeing Banks falling as late as the early 30s. Yes, Banks has slid down a couple draft boards — going from the unanimous pick for the first tackle to be taken in the draft, to jockeying with LSU's Will Campbell and Missouri's Armand Membou for that claim. But if you want to hear his name called at Thursday's NFL draft, I suggest you don't tune in too late.
MORE CEDDY: For Texas football prospects, path to NFL success doesn't stop after first round
Banks had a 5.16-second 40-yard dash at the combine, which is a middling time for this year's class. His 20-yard shuttle time of 4.66 seconds placed a bit higher within the tackle group. He could be the first Longhorn at his position to go in the first round since Mike Williams went with the second overall pick to Buffalo in 2002.
Banks was inserted into the lineup from the day he arrived from Humble Summer Creek. He started 39 consecutive games before an ankle injury incurred at Texas A&M on Thanksgiving weekend sidelined him for the SEC championship game loss to Georgia.
Advertisement
This season, he became the first player in program history to win both the Outland and Lombardi awards in the same season.
Here's what to know about the standout Longhorn and how draft experts view his transition to the NFL:
Kelvin Banks Jr. draft projections
Jordan Reid, ESPN: No. 11 to the San Francisco 49ers
Field Yates, ESPN: No. 11 to the 49ers
Matt Miller, ESPN: No. 23 to the Green Bay Packers
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: No. 10 to the Chicago Bears
Jeff Risdon, Draft Wire: No. 31 to the Kansas City Chiefs
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: No. 27 to the Baltimore Ravens
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports: No. 10 to the Bears
Advertisement
Pro Football Network: No. 13 to the Miami Dolphins
Tankathon: No. 11 to the 49ers
Pro Football Focus: No. 17 to the Cincinnati Bengals
Ryan Wilson, CBS: No. 9 to the New Orleans Saints
Chris Trapasso, CBS: No. 18 to the Seahawks
Mike Renner, CBS: No. 13 to the Miami Dolphins
Josh Edwards, CBS: No. 13 to the Dolphins
MORE CEDDY: Andrew Mukuba, Texas football's enforcer, relishes Clemson reunion | Golden
Kelvin Banks Jr. bio
Position: Offensive left tackle
Age: 21
Hometown: Humble
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 325 pounds
MORE BANKS: Why Texas football star LT Kelvin Banks Jr. should 'drive the Lambo'
Advertisement
MORE DRAFT: NFL scouting report for Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton
Kelvin Banks Jr. positional rankings
Longtime ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. had rated Banks the No. 10 prospect overall, regardless of position, and top tackle on his big board. But Banks has since slid down a bit. He's still seen as a consensus top-three offensive tackle in the draft.
Here's where various scouting analysts and services rank Banks:
Kiper: No. 13 prospect overall, No. 3 OT
Jordan Reid, ESPN: No. 20 overall, No. 3 OT
Matt Miller, ESPN: No. 8 overall, No. 1 OT
Field Yates, ESPN: No. 13 overall, No. 2 OT
Advertisement
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: No. 10 overall, No. 3 OT
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network: No. 27 overall, No. 3 OT
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: No. 15 overall, No. 2 WR
PFF: No. 22 prospect overall, No. 4 OT
CBS: No. 9 prospect overall, No. 3 OT
Kelvin Banks Jr. draft profile
Banks did not complete all pre-draft workouts and drills.
Arm length: 33½ inches
Hand Size: 10⅜ inches
40-yard dash: 5.16 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.66 seconds
10-yard split: 1.79 seconds
Three-cone drill: 7.81 seconds
Broad jump: 8 feet, 8 inches
Vertical: 32 inches
Bench press: N/A
Notes: Lombardi Award winner in 2024... allowed just three sacks through his first 37 games... Tabbed as an All-American by several different outlets... Was a consensus top-10 tackle prospect in the nation coming out of high school... Blocked for NFL running backs such as Jonathon Brooks and Bijan Robinson.
Kelvin Banks Jr. scouting report
Strengths: Great athleticism, particularly lateral movement in pass protection. Exceptional range as a blocker translates well to a zone scheme. Good hand usage allows him to win one-on-one matchups. Fluid mover who reacts well to counter moves.
Advertisement
Weaknesses: Balance in run blocking. Sometimes overextends at the point of contact. Struggles to maintain his base in pass protection by turning his shoulders. Needs to improve upper body strength.
What Cedric Golden noticed: Banks can go a whole game without getting mentioned because he is so consistent at stoning opposing defensive ends. His athleticism leaps off the screen. Scouts are even more excited because he carries a frame that will occupy more muscle as he matures. Banks is a nice guy, but there's a dog behind that megawatt smile. He takes it personally when someone in an opposing uniform touches his quarterback. He understands the job and his own toughest critic. That will serve him well at the next level.
NFL player comps: Austin Jackson, Miami Dolphins
Kelvin Banks Jr. stats by season
2022: 13 games
Advertisement
2023: 14 games, 985 snaps (550 pass-block snaps), 1 sack allowed, 10 QB hurries allowed (per Pro Football Focus)
2024: 15 games, 935 snaps (537 pass-block snaps), 1 sack allowed, 7 QB hurries allowed
Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Kelvin Banks Jr. scouting report: Where OT lands in NFL mock drafts
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh Steelers' Offensive Trio Ranked a Bottom-5 Unit in the NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers' Offensive Trio Ranked a Bottom-5 Unit in the NFL originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers did not have a great contingency plan in place if Aaron Rodgers chose not to sign with the Steelers. Luckily for the Steelers, Rodgers agreed to come to Pittsburgh on Thursday. Advertisement If Rodgers opted to go elsewhere or retire from football, it would have either been career backup Mason Rudolph or rookie Will Howard taking starting snaps under center; neither an ideal option. The Steelers have some decent skill talent around Rodgers. The offseason acquisition of DK Metcalf gives the Steelers a No. 1 option, despite trading away George Pickens. Robert Woods has been a steady contributor as a wideout for over a decade, and with the departure of Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren will finally take the reigns as the lead back for the Steelers. SI ranked each NFL team's top offensive triplets prior to the Rodgers' news, assuming that Mason Rudolph would be the starting quarterback, paired with Warren and Metcalf. The Steelers' trio ranked as a bottom-five unit in the NFL, with the No. 28 ranking. "Pittsburgh will shoot up the rankings if Aaron Rodgers joins the Black & Gold,'' the site wrote. "Rudolph is holding this offense back as he's a good backup but a poor starting option. Warren is a better back than some realize, having rushed for 4.3 YPC last year on 120 attempts. Metcalf is an enormous acquisition, coming off a year in Seattle where he posted 66 receptions for 992 yards over 15 games." Advertisement The real question is: with Rodgers, how much would the Steelers move up in this ranking? They rank right behind Indianapolis' Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr., New York's Justin Fields, Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, and Denver's Bo Nix, RJ Harvey, and Courtland Sutton. Pittsburgh likely clears Indiana, but it's hard to argue they'd jump the Jets. Wilson is one of the NFL's best young receivers, and Breece Hall has been a scrimmage-yard machine since entering the NFL. Fields brings down New York's ranking, but after Rodgers' 5-12 campaign for the Jets, it's hard to imagine he'd bump the Steelers up a ton, especially with Warren coming off a down year in terms of production and efficiency. Related: Rodgers and Fields Get Double-Revenge Shot in Steelers vs. Jets in Week 1 Related: Steelers Rumored to Be Targeting Trade for Aaron Rodgers Buddy This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ryan Clark Tempers Expectations After Steelers Sign Aaron Rodgers
Ryan Clark Tempers Expectations After Steelers Sign Aaron Rodgers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers are undeniably a better team than they were in the months before signing Aaron Rodgers. Advertisement On Thursday, the league's least entertaining quarterback chase came to an end. Rodgers has emerged from the darkness of the offseason with a newfound will to play, and Pittsburgh has long been the only destination that makes sense. Fans are understandably split on one of the league's most polarizing passers. Rodgers has never shied away from controversy, and his outspoken nature has rubbed many the wrong way. Yet, it's obvious he gives the Steelers a level of potency that Mason Rudolph doesn't. Perhaps one's view of Rodgers lies in whether he can truly forge a deep playoff run with Pittsburgh's roster. Ryan Clark doesn't see that happening. On 'SportsCenter,' the former Steelers star slowed the hype on Pittsburgh's chances after the Rodgers signing. Advertisement "This is the worst case scenario for Pittsburgh Steelers fans," Clark said. "[Rodgers] continues to keep you mired in mediocrity... Will they contend for that championship that Pittsburgh Steelers people and fans and the organization think is the standard? No, they won't. "They'll be fighting for a wild-card spot, they'll probably be home Week 1 of the playoffs and again be looking for a franchise quarterback. If you told me you were going to pair one of this era's greatest coaches with one of this era's greatest quarterbacks, I'd expect greatness. That is not what we'll get. Maybe six years ago, but not now." To an extent, Clark is right. Rodgers, coming off a poor season with the New York Jets, isn't likely to end Pittsburgh's playoff-win drought. He's the next chapter in the Steelers' trek through quarterback purgatory. Yet, there is upside in the unknown, and the Pittsburgh faithful will be grateful to avoid 17 games of backup-level quarterbacking. There's a chance he exceeds expectations and ends his career on a high note, and it's easy to convince oneself that a strong defense with an adult under center could lead to success. Advertisement Given Clark's history with Rodgers, we won't expect a change of tune anytime soon, but this fanbase will cherish the Canton-bound quarterback like a champion if he pulls off anything close. Related: Rodgers To Face Former Team with Shot at History Related: Inside How Much Aaron Rodgers Signing Helps Steelers' Bottom-5 'Triplets' Ranking This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Former QB blasts Mike Tomlin, Steelers' Aaron Rodgers signing: 'Definition of insanity'
Former QB blasts Mike Tomlin, Steelers' Aaron Rodgers signing: 'Definition of insanity' Steelers HC Mike Tomlin has come under fire after news of the Aaron Rodgers signing broke — and former NFL QB Chase Daniel isn't holding back. Back in January, Tomlin claimed that "it's not like doing I've been doing the same things over [and over]" — but Daniel explained that the Rodgers signing proves the exact opposite (courtesy of The Facility): "That's completely false, because you have been doing the same thing over and over. The Steelers have been in this situation before — an aging quarterback, trying to resurrect his career, that needs to be propped up by the NFL's most expensive defense. They tried to muddle last season with 36-year-old Russell Wilson — what did it get them? A first-round exit — not a playoff win. Russell Wilson went 6-5," Daniel criticized. "They did it with Big Ben [Roethlisberger] in his late 30s for a few years — Ben was 9-7 his last season. It didn't work. They're trying to do it again with Aaron Rodgers this year — in what possibly could be Aaron Rodgers' last season as a pro." Daniel would conclude with a powerful criticism of Tomlin's strategy over the past few years — one that many Steelers fans may agree with: "[The Steelers are] doing exactly what Mike Tomlin said he wasn't doing, and the definition of that in the dictionary — if I'm not wrong, [Emmanuel] Acho — is insanity." Could Rodgers serve as the outlier to Tomlin's failed attempts to rely on aging QBs, or will he ultimately become the last nail in the coffin for the Steelers head coach's tenure in Pittsburgh? For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
