As the Baltimore Ravens inch closer to making a first-round draft decision, there really aren’t many ways for them to mess things up. They have several urgent needs, including wide receiver, guard, and center. Still, that’s not to say that general manager Eric DeCosta won’t make a decision that’ll upset fans.
It’s pretty much impossible to make everyone happy. A good section of the fanbase is dead set on adding protection for Lamar Jackson; others seem committed to adding another weapon to the passing attack; and some even have the "best player available" mindset that DeCosta usually carries. However, if the Ravens shy away from all of those possibilities, then they may frustrate the majority of fans.
One way to do that is by drafting defensive tackle Caleb Banks (Florida). In Chad Reuter’s latest mock draft, that’s exactly what he has Baltimore doing. Reuter wrote:
“Even if Nnamdi Madubuike returns from a serious neck injury that cost him most of 2025, the Ravens could use another athletic big man on the interior. Banks' injury history could give some teams pause, but his combination of size (6-foot-6, 327 pounds) and agility are rare, so taking him in the top 20 is a reasonable risk.”
Baltimore Ravens make pick bound to frustrate fanbase in recent NFL mock draft
In all honesty, Banks isn’t a bad prospect. He’s actually a solid player with tons of potential due to his size and athleticism. However, defensive tackle shouldn’t be among the top needs…hopefully not.
If the Ravens found themselves drafting a defensive tackle in the first round, fans would likely be fearing one of two things. One, the prospects they’ve been matched with the most, like Vega Ioane (Penn State), Spencer Fano (Utah), and Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), are all gone. Or two, Nnamdi Madubuike’s neck is serious.
That Madubuike situation has generated some optimism is recent weeks, but remains uncertain. But if his future is in jeopardy, than the Ravens would have a whole separate problem on their hands.
There is a world where the front office just simply prefers Banks, but with a pretty talented interior defensive line already and needs elsewhere, fans probably wouldn’t be sold on the pick right off the bat. There’s also a lot of risk in drafting Banks.
The reason why risk hasn’t been consistently mocked inside the top half of the first round is his foot injuries. He broke his left foot early in the 2025 season, and after attempting a late-season comeback, he re-aggravated the injury. At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, he fractured the fourth metatarsal in that same foot. Clearly, his health is a bit of a red flag, and taking that type of prospect at 14th overall isn’t just a risk; it’s a high-stakes gamble.
In terms of talent, Banks could be worth a selection at or around No. 14. He ranks 25th on FanSided’s top-50 big board. However, when you combine the lack of immediate need and his injuries, it wouldn’t exactly be a great pick in the eyes of the fanbase.
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