The Green Bay Packers have 10 interior defensive linemen under contract for 2026, but Devonte Wyatt would still be the most experienced player in the room with only four NFL seasons. That’s a thin foundation for the long term. As a result, Brian Gutekunst will likely need to look beyond the current group to strengthen the position, whether through free agency or the draft.
Given the state of the interior defensive line, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Green Bay use multiple draft picks on the position. Last week, Zone Coverage identified Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter as a potential draft target. Still, he’s far from the only prospect who would make sense for the Green and Gold to target in April.
Florida’s Caleb Banks is another name to watch. He’s ranked 27th on the consensus big board and, theoretically, would be out of Green Bay’s range. However, Banks turns 25 in October and has an injury history, which could push him down some teams’ boards. Even so, the premium value of the interior defensive line keeps him in the Round 1 conversation for teams willing to overlook those concerns.
That creates an interesting question for Green Bay. The Packers won’t pick until No. 52 unless they trade up, and under Brian Gutekunst, they’ve selected just one interior defensive lineman inside the top 100. Given that history, it’s fair to wonder whether Gutekunst would be willing to commit additional draft capital for an older prospect with an injury track record.
Now that the drawbacks are out of the way, it’s worth shifting the focus to Banks’ on-field production — and why teams are still intrigued. The upside is clear. In the right system, Banks’ pass-rush ability from the inside could provide real value.
He finished his high school career as a three-star recruit and began his college career at Louisville, where he spent two seasons in a limited role. He appeared in just seven games for the Cardinals before transferring, seeking a fresh start and a greater opportunity.
That opportunity came at Florida, where Caleb Banks spent the final three years of his collegiate career. He played in all 12 games in 2023, setting the stage for a breakout the following season. In 2024, Banks posted career-best production, including 4.5 sacks, and consistently flashed traits that would naturally make NFL teams take notice.
“At 6’6” and 330 lbs. with 35” arms, (Caleb) Banks is surprisingly explosive for his size, playing with power, juice, and a nonstop motor,” CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson wrote. “A foot injury sidelined him for parts of the 2025 season, but he took part in all three Senior Bowl practices and was pretty much unblockable on every rep. If he’s fully healthy, he has top-10 ability.”
Banks is one of my favorite prospects in this class, simply because of how fun he could be to watch on a defensive line alongside Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt. However, history suggests he likely won’t end up in Green Bay, which is understandable. Investing a high draft pick in an older prospect with an injury history isn’t typically how the Packers operate.
Still, it’s been a long time since Green Bay had a true tone-setter on the interior, and that’s something they badly need — in the short term and as a long-term building block.
I’d be shocked if the Packers used a top-100 pick on him. And there’s a chance Caleb Banks doesn’t make it out of the top-40 selections anyway. Still, if there’s a year where Green Bay could afford to deviate from its usual approach, it’s 2026. They’re in win-now mode, and Banks could step in immediately and be a meaningful part of the defensive line rotation from Day 1.
