Panthers Foolishly Projected to Draft Injured Defender Who Can’t Tackle

The Carolina Panthers have just 21 days to figure out who they’ll pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and with mocks coming out left and right, it’s evident that the Panthers are in a great spot right now and really just need to select the best player on the board.

There are definitely positions that the Panthers don’t need, but some defensive help is always useful, especially on the defensive line, which is a unit that didn’t perform well in 2025.

One of the latest mocks theoretically adds to the Panthers’ defensive line help, but the prospect has some real red flags that scouts and GMs shouldn’t ignore going in, and the cause of it is one of the biggest risks in this draft class, regardless of position.

Panthers Linked to Florida Defensive Lineman

Caleb Banks at Flordia Pro Day — Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) watches the action during Pro Day at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] | Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Yahoo Sports Nate Trice and Charles McDonald released their “NFL mock draft 7.1” on Wednesday morning, and they have the Panthers projected to draft Caleb Banks, a defensive tackle out of the University of Florida.

Banks is a great athlete, has amazing size, and has the physical tools to get after the opposing QB. Banks didn’t have the 2025 he wanted, recording just two solo tackles on the year in just two games played for the season. His 2024 season was better, with 4.5 sacks.

Even Bank’s 2024 numbers aren’t eye-popping, but his physical traits make him a potential first-round pick, but he’s certainly not a lock to be a first-rounder.

Why the Panthers Shouldn’t Draft Banks

Dave Canales at the League Meeting — Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

As Trice and McDonald are giving their take on Banks, they highlight a massive problem with Banks as a prospect: he “just can’t tackle”. This is a huge concern and one that should make Banks slide out of the first round.

Banks feels more like a project than a day-one contributor because of his raw ability, but his lack of consistent production and ability to tackle people, which is a big part of Banks’s job, holds him back. If the Panthers were to make this pick in the second round, then it’d be a home run, but Banks almost certainly won’t be available by the time Carolina gets back on the clock at pick 51.

Not only does the production give concern, but so does Caleb Bank's health. Banks played only two games in 2025 because of a foot injury in fall camp, which ended up requiring surgery later in the season. Banks not only got hurt during last Football season, but is now recovering from another broken foot injury and will be sidelined till June.

If the Panthers are smart, they’ll move past Caleb Banks; there are other defensive tackles and edge rushers that will be available at 19. There are also more important holes to fill, such as safety, tight end, and offensive line.