The main focus of offseason rumors for the Pittsburgh Steelers centers on rebuilding the receiver position. Given their immense need there and the recent investment in the trenches, it makes sense to invest in more of a luxury position.
However, Caleb Banks may have just made himself unavoidable for the Steelers.
While the defensive line isn’t the biggest need on paper, that shouldn’t matter if Banks is available to the team. I was a fan of him before the combine, but after weighing in and testing, his fit with the team is undeniable.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to consider DL Caleb Banks after a remarkable NFL Combine
It wasn’t going to be shocking when Banks came in with an impressive body type. However, I think he still blew expectations away.
Standing at just over 6’6 and 327 pounds, he looks the part of a Steelers defensive end. When you add in his almost 11-inch hands and 35-inch arms, you have a rare body type that Pittsburgh has historically coveted.
His testing numbers came back strong. MathBomb, the gentleman who compiles athletic profiles and provides a score out of ten, gave him a 9.84 overall. Given how massive Banks is, this is a huge feat.
The tape matches the hype to an extent as well. When healthy and on, Banks looks unstoppable. He bullies offensive linemen in the running game and has a quick zip off the line as a pass rusher. His ability to knife through the line is reminiscent of former Steelers lineman Stephon Tuitt. Frankly, that feels like a good comparison player if Banks hits his ceiling.
Is the defensive line the top need for this team? No. But the best teams add the best talent, and it would be hard to imagine that Banks isn’t the best player available if he makes it to the Steelers in the first round.
Receiver is naturally the bigger need, but this class is deep at receiver at the top of the draft. While the top three names have a slight advantage over the rest of the class, it isn’t a massive leap. The odds of landing one of the top three receivers without trading up seem slim.
The drop-off from Banks to some of the day-two defensive linemen is much larger. No one feels like a great option to develop into a top-end starter. Meanwhile, few players have the body type that Banks possesses.
He would land in a great spot in year one. Assuming Cameron Heyward comes back for one last season, he gets to serve as a rotational depth player in year one. The team can deploy him where it makes sense.
After this season, Pittsburgh will be without Heyward and potentially without Keeanu Benton. Banks steps in as an instant starter.
The Florida product needed a good combine, and he delivered. His measurements lived up to the hype, and now it will just be a matter of Banks falling far enough for the Pittsburgh Steelers to draft him.