Broncos take a shot on raw, explosive defensive lineman in 2026 NFL mock draft

The Denver Broncos will have a lot of things to consider with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, regardless of how this season ends up. 

The team could use another wide receiver and that is likely the spot where most fans would like to see that pick used. There will also be talk of taking another offensive tackle or adding a better option at the inside linebacker position. But the team also must consider the likelihood that defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers will get paid by another team in free agency. 

Franklin-Myers has been terrific since being obtained in a trade by the Broncos, but it will be difficult for the team to keep him, considering what his price tag could be in the offseason. It seemed the Broncos acknowledged this in the 2025 NFL Draft when they traded back into the third round to select LSU defensive lineman Sai'vion Jones. 

With the idea of needing another solid prospect along the defensive line in mind, Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports predicts that the Broncos will select Florida's Caleb Banks with their first-round pick in his most recent mock draft. 

"Banks is surprisingly explosive for his size, playing with power, juice and a nonstop motor. A foot injury early in the 2025 season has affected him and kept him on the sidelines; the injury will be worth monitoring as the draft process unfolds", wrote Wilson. 

That foot injury limited Banks to only three games for the Gators this season, but few draft analysts are using that against him, instead grading him on what, at times, is superior play on film. 

Banks brings a tremendous combination of power and speed to the position. Throw in the fact that he is 6-foot-6 and he is an incredibly intriguing prospect. He recently turned 24 years old, which is older than most rookies and could scare some teams off. But that was also the case when Bo Nix came out and that has worked out just fine for the Broncos. 

READ: Broncos' chances to get No. 1 seed in the AFC just got a lot better

Getting an athletic defensive lineman with a high ceiling is a move that makes sense for the Broncos. Banks is a raw prospect who hardly played in 2025, but what you see on tape depicts a physical specimen who has not come close to reaching his full potential. He will be a player to keep a close eye on at this year's Senior Bowl. 

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