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The NFL Scouting Combine gives the football world new batches of winners and losers after each day of on-field workouts. Sometimes, though, the biggest breaks of the Combine aren't told until the scouts leave Indianapolis.
Florida Gators defensive tackle Caleb Downs was among the victors as the interior linemen raced their way into early-round conversations. However, his workout was cut short, citing cleat issues.
Two weeks later, it's clear that Banks wasn't just taking precautions at the Combine.
Caleb Banks has a new injury to manage
According to Dane Brugler, Banks' foot injury occurred the night before he worked out.
"The injury happened the night before his on-field testing," Brugler reported. "He performed a partial workout not knowing the extent of the injury. The fracture of the fourth metatarsal was surgically repaired by Dr. Norman Waldrop on March 9."
Despite the injury, Banks had one of the most impressive Combines of any participant, especially among the big bodies on the interior.
Part of that was purely a matter of breaking the scales. At 6'6 1/4" and 327 pounds -- 98th- and 89th-percentile marks, respectively -- Banks has the size to be a dominant nose tackle. That physicality radiates through his game, including his bull rush. His pass-rush utility grants him an additional level of versatility and upside.
Banks' 5.09-second 40-yard dash was above-average for the position and off the charts when adjusting for size. Throw in silly jumps (32-inch vertical, 114-inch broad), and it's clear that he possesses unusual athleticism.
MORE: NFL Combine winners and losers – defensive line, linebackers
Subsequently, Banks' Combine helped his stock, and while it didn't lock him into Round 1, it certainly helped some teams fall in love. He entered the pre-draft cycle having to answer questions about his injury-shortened 2025 campaign and lack of production.
This news puts a dent in Banks' case. Fortunately, he's expected to return in June, per Jordan Reid, so this shouldn't impact his rookie season.
More important than the injury itself is what it means for his profile. Bigger bodies can often present injury concerns, especially for those who are creating enough force for explosive movements. It's not a coincidence that Mekhi Becton had lingering lower-body issues. Banks is violent, and there's a chance that his body simply struggles to survive that kind of punishment.
One foot injury in a year is unfortunate, but easy to write off as happenstance. Two is more of a concern, and a team could very well dock him as a potential health risk. Given the millions of dollars at stake, it's hard to blame teams for doing so.
It only takes one team to fall in love, but Banks' foot injury could be concerning enough to facilitate a drop to Round 2. With his high-level flashes and elite blend of mass and athleticism, he'll offer some lucky team more surplus value than they initially anticipated.
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