Kelvin Banks Jr. NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New Orleans Saints OL

The New Orleans Saints selected Texas OL Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Kelvin Banks Jr. is a three-year starter at left tackle inside Texas' 52-48 run-pass split, multiple run scheme with a high rate of quick-game, RPOs and motion. Banks has good athletic ability with a compact build, solid arm length and play strength.

Banks excels getting into his fits square and on time on double-teams and combo blocks using the gallop technique to deliver pop on contact to jumpstart movement. This sets him up well to release, climb and intersect backers where he can establish a quick, firm latch to gain control at the point of attack. Banks is also a fluid mover leading around the edge and on screens with the burst to line up, uncork and jolt smaller targets. He gets into trouble on solo drive/base blocks due to his base widening as the rep progresses, leaving him overextended and off balance late in the rep which saps his ability to consistently sustain and finish.

Kelvin Banks Jr. Highlights

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In pass protection, Banks shows smooth footwork in his 45-degree set and does a nice job keeping his inside foot vertical to the spot, which helps him remain square and balanced on contact. He is skilled in using his hands with a potent bait technique to disrupt the rusher's plan with a default high-low hand carriage that works well to establish quick leverage on outside moves with an effective catch hand against inside moves. Banks transitions into his anchor against speed to power on time but can get pressed onto his heels and pried open against the long-arm that exposes closer to average length and lower body strength.

Overall, Banks is a skilled pass protector with good athletic ability who works effectively on combination blocks and can line up targets on the move but will fall off of blocks on longer developing plays and struggle to finish due to streaky contact balance and sustain skills.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 315

HAND: 10⅜"

ARM: 33½"

WINGSPAN: 84⅜"

40-YARD DASH: 5.16

3-CONE: 7.81

SHUTTLE: 4.66

VERTICAL: 32"

BROAD: 8'8"

POSITIVES

— Smooth footwork in his pass set with his inside foot vertical to reach his spot on time, square and under control.

— Refined use of hands in pass protection.

— Potent bait technique to disrupt the rusher's timing with a firm understanding of high-low hands to clamp up outside moves and slow down inside moves.

— Gets into fits with proper timing and pad level on double-teams and combo blocks to arrive on contact with pop before driving and generating displacement.

— Has the wheels and agility to stride out, close space and intersect targets on lead-pulls and screens.

NEGATIVES

— During the second and third phases of base/angle-drive blocks he struggles to keep defenders clenched/tight to his frame resulting in a wide base, leaning and falling off of too many blocks.

— Feet can cross over on backside cut-offs leading to a compromised base and quick penetration.

NOTES

— Born March 10, 2004

— 5-star recruit from the 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2023: AP First-team All-Big 12

— 2024: Consensus All-American, Outland and Lombardi Award winner

— 42 career starts at left tackle

GRADE: 7.8 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 33

POSITION RANK: IOL3

PRO COMPARISON: Justin Pugh

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn