He is a big man, the kind you notice even when you don’t want to. Six-foot-5, 325 pounds and built like a stone gate, Caleb Banks does not move quickly, but when he moves, things break. He was made to stop the run and hold the line when it is cold and late, and the game is bleeding time. And if the Chiefs are wise, they’ll take him, because men like that are hard to find and harder still to move.
Why Is Caleb Banks Perfect for Steve Spagnuolo’s Defense?
According to PFSN’s Mark Stolte, the Kansas City Chiefs project to be in position to draft around 30th overall. That means they made it just short of the Super Bowl, but just right to grab run-stuffing interior defensive lineman Caleb Banks.
“Caleb Banks is a traditional DT who was solid as a pass rusher in 2024, with four sacks and 29 pressures on 233 pass-rush snaps. At 6’5″, 325 pounds, Banks surprisingly played a lot more 3-tech than expected,” Stolte writes. “With that size on the interior, the Kansas City Chiefs should be pretty stout at stopping the run.”
Banks is a redshirt senior who recorded 21 tackles (10 solo) and seven tackles for loss in 2024. His elite size and surge are ideal for A-gap control, and his sack numbers signal a strong pass-rush ability for an interior defensive lineman.
He’s physically aggressive against the run and built to hold gaps while being athletic enough for stunts and pressure schemes. That said, he needs some refinement with his hip flexibility and his bend. He won’t be able to just bull rush in the NFL.
How Would Banks Fit Into Kansas City’s Scheme?
Should he land with the Chiefs, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would have a field day scheming him. Spagnuolo prefers big, disruptive interior defensive linemen who can anchor against the run, generate interior pressure, and let loose his edge rushers.
Banks is big enough and athletic enough to be a 3-technique or 4-technique lineman lined up outside the A-gap, similar to what the Chiefs do with Chris Jones. He can do stunts and loops and create havoc for centers and guards.
The Chiefs have recently invested heavily in edge rushers and need help inside. Banks’s size and athleticism bring upside and would be good enough for a multi-down role.
If Banks falls to the Chiefs at 30, he’ll be a steal. He fits what they crave: a disruptive interior defender who can help solidify Spagnuolo’s preference for four down linemen who can present pressure without too much blitzing.
All that remains now is whether Banks rockets up the draft chart or remains where he’s projected.
