Kelvin Banks Jr. 2025 NFL Draft: Texas OT Scouting Report
Coming out of Texas, we have one of the safest offensive linemen in this talented rookie draft class in Kelvin Banks Jr. As we look ahead to the talented 2025 NFL Draft class, Banks is one of the strongest OT prospects who could have a long and successful NFL career. Today, we’ll be breaking down his NFL outlook in this scouting report.
Kelvin Banks Jr. 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Kelvin Banks Jr. is a highly talented and technically refined offensive tackle prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class. More importantly, he has the skill set to thrive at the next level.
Overall, Banks is a smooth mover with excellent footwork and hand technique. Impressively, he excels in pass protection while showcasing the athleticism and power needed to be an effective run blocker. His ability to handle stunts, process defensive schemes, and maintain leverage makes him reliable on the offensive line. However, he has some areas to refine. Particularly, in balance and sustaining blocks.
Ultimately, Banks Jr.’s combination of mobility, strength, and football IQ positions him as one of the most promising tackles in his class.
HT: 6051
WT: 315
HAND: 1038
ARM: 3348
40: 5.16
Strengths
- Athletic Fluidity: Banks moves with exceptional grace for a 315-pound lineman. His lateral quickness shines in pass protection, allowing him to mirror speed rushers off the edge, while his burst off the snap enables him to reach the second level in the run game easily.
- Pass Protection Technique: Displays advanced hand usage and footwork in his pass sets. Banks keeps a wide base and active feet, consistently staying square to defenders. His ability to bait rushers and counter with precise punches disrupts timing and keeps the pocket clean.
- Anchor Strength: Banks compensates with a stout lower half and natural leverage despite lacking elite height or arm length. He absorbs power rushes effectively, rarely getting pushed back into the quarterback’s lap.
- Football IQ: He shows sharp pre-snap awareness, quickly identifying stunts and twists. His processing speed stands out in combination blocks, where he adjusts angles on the fly to maximize displacement.
- Proven Durability: Started 42 games over three seasons, facing a gauntlet of SEC and Big Ten edge rushers. His consistency and resilience against elite competition (e.g., Michigan’s Mason Graham and Georgia’s Mykel Williams) highlight his NFL readiness.
Areas for Improvement
- Hand Placement Consistency: While Banks has strong hands, his placement can be erratic, particularly in the run game. He occasionally catches defenders rather than striking proactively, allowing savvy opponents to shed blocks late in reps.
- Balance on the Move: Tends to overextend when reaching for targets in space or reacting to counters, leading to occasional balance issues. This is most evident against quick-twitch defenders who exploit his forward lean with push-pull moves.
- Hip Flexibility: Moderate hip stiffness limits his ability to redirect seamlessly against inside counters. Faster edge rushers who chop back across his frame can expose this limitation.
- Length Concerns: At 6’5” with an average arm length, Banks lacks the prototypical tackle frame. Longer-armed NFL edge rushers may challenge his ability to keep them at bay without flawless technique.
- Power Rush Vulnerability: While rare, Banks can get rocked back by bigger, stronger bull rushers when his pad level creeps up, hinting at a need for added lower-body strength to handle the NFL’s elite interior-converted edges.
Conclusion
Banks Jr. is a polished yet ascending talent who blends immediate impact with long-term upside. His accolades and tape affirm his status as a top-tier prospect, but technical tweaks will determine whether he becomes a good or elite NFL starter.
Banks profiles as a Day 1 starter at left tackle in schemes that prioritize athleticism and quick-game passing, such as those run by the Rams or Dolphins. His movement skills and awareness make him an ideal fit for outside zone and play-action-heavy offenses. However, his shorter stature and length concerns could push some teams to view him as a high-end guard, where his power and agility could dominate inside.
With refinement in hand technique and added lower-body strength, Banks has Pro Bowl potential at tackle. His floor is a reliable multi-year starter, while his ceiling could see him among the league’s top linemen if he lands in the right system. Expect him to come off the board anywhere from the middle of round one to the top of the second round in the 2025 NFL Draft, likely to a team like the Titans, Jets, or Cardinals seeking a cornerstone tackle.
Like Charles Leno, Banks combines technical savvy with a compact, powerful frame to overcome modest length. Both excel in pass protection through footwork and awareness, though Banks has a higher athletic ceiling and greater upside as a run blocker with proper development.
Round Grade: 2nd Round
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