The Chicago Bears will likely use the 2026 NFL Draft to improve their very volatile defense, now that Caleb Williams has given them a very high ceiling on offense. Specifically, the defensive line could bring in at least one more impactful player who can be a part of the long-term furniture.
Even though he is fresh off a season that was muddled with injuries, all signs point to Florida star Caleb Banks using his unique blend of explosion off the snap and tremendous power to become a game-wrecker for whoever decides to select him.
Despite coming into a crowded defensive tackles class that features names like Ohio State's Kayden McDonald and Texas Tech's Lee Hunter, Banks may be the most talented player at this position. To make Bears fans even more excited about the idea of picking him at No. 25 overall, Banks has the exact mindset Dennis Allen wants to see from his tackles.
Banks was quoted as saying he would "run through a m-----f------ face" as he channeled the spiring of Marshawn Lynch at the NFL Combine. That time of aggression and never-say-die attitude on the defensive line is what could really help take this team into the stratosphere.
Possible Bears first-round pick Caleb Banks fires up fans with awesome quote
Banks only played in three games this past season due to injury. However, if he were fully healthy, there is no reason why he couldn't have cemented himself as a possible Top 10 and the No. 1 defensive tackle in this class over Clemson's Peter Woods.
Not only is Banks a gigantic player at 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds, but he possesses some genuinely jaw-dropping athletic benchmarks that make him one of the best athletes in this class at any position. His combination of pass-rush upside and size might be too enticing for the Bears to pass up.
The Bears can take advantage of the depth this NFL Draft class has at edge rusher by picking someone on Day 2 and letting Banks immediately become a starter next to Gervon Dexter. Poles will need the courage, however, to push 2025 second-rounder Shemar Turner to the side.
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No matter what happens during Banks' professional career, he certainly has the attitude needed to succeed in the NFL. Quotes like that, coupled with some slide production, will instantly make him a fan favorite in Chicago for years to come.