Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning showed his excitement after now-former teammate Kelvin Banks Jr. was taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
"Nola getting a good one @thekelvinbanks," Manning said in an Instagram story.
Mel Kiper Jr. detailed Banks' talents on his recent big board. Banks was tabbed as his No. 13 overall prospect.
"Banks has 42 career starts under his belt, with every single snap coming at left tackle. And amazingly, he gave up only three sacks," Kiper wrote. "He has the mobility to quickly block off the edge and then the frame and strength to take care of power rushers.
"He just needs to become more consistent in the run game as a blocker. Banks missed the SEC championship with an ankle injury but returned for Texas' CFP games."
In Banks, the Saints are hoping to get an elite blindside protector. They passed on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders despite the fact that Derek Carr has an injury that could preclude him from playing.
"Kelvin Banks Jr. offers prototypical size, footwork, and consistency for an NFL left tackle," Banks' NFL.com overview said. "He's a smooth mover in pass protection with strong anchor ability and clean hand placement. Banks showed advanced maturity from the moment he stepped into the lineup as a true freshman and maintained elite performance across three seasons in two conferences.
"His combination of durability, production, and high-end tape against SEC pass rushers makes him one of the safest picks in the 2025 class. A polished technician with All-Pro potential."
