Left Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Doesn’t Have What it Takes

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it when I evaluated Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. in 2023. I wrote about the ‘laziness’ I saw on his tape, but I didn’t put it together until I was doing research this time around while watching his 2024 film.

While researching the ankle injury Banks suffered against Texas A&M, I stumbled into a nugget of information. Per SI, “I just think he represents us at the highest level,” Sarkisian said. “To go along with it he’s a great football player and he’s very calm on the field. Some might say he’s reserved, but I see it first hand that he’s not, he plays physical and he plays violent. … “I want him to win every award he can win, be an All-American and a first-round pick. I don’t know what else left tackles can do on that front.”

That’s it!

“He’s very calm on the field.”

“Reserved”

That’s when the light bulb went off in my head.

So…that’s the reason he gives up on all those blocks too soon…so…that’s the reason he does just enough most of the rest of the time.

That’s the reason he looks too methodical and lacks urgency in his play.

It’s his nature.

Not banking on him in pass protection

No pun intended, but this is where Banks loses me.

That’s because the college game gave him everything he could handle.

I’m not a fan of Banks’ inconsistent footwork nor am I a fan of the leverage he gives up to pass rushers while attempting to keep them out of the pocket. He tends to waist bend and lean into pass rushers. Additionally, he tends to widen his base as he deepens into the pocket and nears the back door (back edge).

Banks is relying too much on his natural strength and not enough upon technique. This makes it too easy for him to lose balance, control, and leverage.

To compound the issues, Banks tends to overcommit to his outside, leaving the inside even more vulnerable for pass rushers to exploit.

Adequate run blocker

Banks is best as a run blocker with leverage laterally or horizontally when he can put his weight and strength behind his blocks and control them.

Otherwise, he’s able to do just enough or not enough.

He’s even less dependable beyond the line of scrimmage.

Crystal ball

I think NFL pass rushers are going to give Banks fits. They’re going to quickly figure out how to use his overcommitted leverage, balance, and positioning against him. Add in his relaxed nature and his take-it-or-leave-it run-blocking, and it’s not looking promising.

I also believe his left ankle injury is going to be a recurring problem in the NFL. He’s going to continuously be putting too much pressure on it when his base widens and he’s forced to attempt to adjust to hard and sudden inside pass-rushing moves back to his inside.

There’s just too much working against him.

#78 Kelvin Banks Jr. 6-foot-5, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Final NFL Draft Grade: Fourth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 94.1% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of March 27, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

M (Medical Risk)

Longhorns’ Left Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Walls Off The Pocket (2023: 14 games evaluated)

2024 game film evaluated: Colorado State, Michigan, UTSA, Louisiana-Monroe, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Clemson, and ASU (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Pass and run blocking mauler who lacks technique. Dense equally distributed muscle mass. Lower energy level. Effective at picking up stunts in pass pro. Hands are like vice grips and he goes along for the ride. Controls shallow depths of the pocket. Heavier feet. Average lateral foot speed. Tendency to cross over his feet and chase from the mid-point to the backdoor of the pocket. Strong anchor vs. bull rushing attempts. Extremely vulnerable to secondary pass rush moves. Too overcommitted. Opponents liked to run blitzes off his side. Inconsistent sustain. Below average finisher. His man was often in or close to the pile.

Final words

I’ll pass.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.