2026 NFL Draft picks, results: Florida Gators draft tracker, selection analysis, draft history

By OnlyGators.com Staff
April 23, 2026
2026 NFL Draft picks, results: Florida Gators draft tracker, selection analysis, draft history
Football

The 2026 NFL Draft opened Thursday with as many as nine Florida Gators eligible to be selected in the seven-round affair. And before the first 32 picks could go off the board, Florida saw its first player chosen, ending a one-year drought.

While the Gators had seven players picked in 2025 — the most since 2021 — none were chosen across the first three rounds for the first time since 2012. The nine-round drought without a player being selected (dating back to 2024) was the program’s longest in the modern seven-round draft era.

Only Gators will be with you throughout all seven rounds from Thursday through Saturday, tracking where the remaining Gators are selected to continue their on-field journeys in the professional rankings. We will continue updating this story with the latest information and analysis. Hit the refresh button below or in your browser to update the page.


Round 1

Round 1 – No. 18
Caleb Banks, DT
Minnesota Vikings

Height: 6’6” | Weight: 327 lbs

Age: 22 | Class: Redshirt senior

The Chomp: Banks ranked fifth overall among defensive tackles after placing similarly in the athleticism tests at the NFL Combine, but he actually got bumped up a spot or two during the pre-draft process. He ironically drew comparisons to fellow Gators standout Gervon Dexter Sr., who has carved out a solid role in the NFL. Banks was said to be one of the biggest risers coming out of the combine, a stock boost he badly needed after only playing in two games last season due to a foot injury. Though teams were concerned about his health, he is on pace to be fully cleared for football activities by early June. What makes Banks so attractive as a prospect is his versatility, but teams are forced to project based on his unknown true potential, as the 2025 season was supposed to be a breakout campaign that could have made him a first-round selection. As such, his draft position was determined by teams’ appetite for risk. The Vikings were apparently hungry to take a chance as Banks was selected at least a full round higher than many projected.

Florida NFL Draft history (last pick …)

By position
QB – 2025 (Graham Mertz)
RB – 2022 (Dameon Pierce)
WR – 2025 (Chimere Dike)
TE – 2021 (Kyle Pitts)
OT – 2021 (Stone Forsythe)
OG – 2023 (O’Cyrus Torrence)
C – 2015 (Max Garcia)
DT – 2026 (Caleb Banks)
DE – 2020 (Jabari Zuniga, Jonathan Greenard)
LB – 2025 (Shemar James)
CB – 2025 (Jason Marshall Jr., Trikweze Bridges)
S – 2021 (Shawn Davis)
K – 2021 (Evan McPherson)
P – 2025 (Jeremy Crawshaw)

By team
Arizona Cardinals – 2021 (CB Marco Wilson)
Atlanta Falcons – 2021 (TE Kyle Pitts)
Baltimore Ravens – 2013 (S Matt Elam)
Buffalo Bills – 2023 (OG O’Cyrus Torrence, WR Justin Shorter)
Carolina Panthers – 2025 (DT Cam Jackson)
Chicago Bears – 2023 (DT Gervon Dexter Sr.)
Cincinnati Bengals – 2022 (DT Zachary Carter)
Cleveland Browns – 2018 (WR Antonio Callaway)
Dallas Cowboys – 2025 (LB Shemar James)
Denver Broncos – 2025 (P Jeremy Crawshaw)
Detroit Lions – 2017 (LB Jarrad Davis, CB Jalen Tabor)
Green Bay Packers – 2021 (DT Tedarrell Slaton)
Houston Texans – 2025 (QB Graham Mertz)
Indianapolis Colts – 2023 (QB Anthony Richardson)
Jacksonville Jaguars – 2023 (LB Ventrell Miller)
Kansas City Chiefs – 2016 (WR Demarcus Robinson)
Los Angeles Chargers – 2025 (CB Trikweze Bridges)
Los Angeles Rams – 2020 (WR Van Jefferson)
Miami Dolphins – 2025 (CB Jason Marshall Jr.)
Minnesota Vikings – 2026 (DT Caleb Banks)
New England Patriots – 2018 (CB Duke Dawson)
New Orleans Saints – 2019 (S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson)
New York Giants – 2021 (WR Kadarius Toney)
New York Jets – 2020 (DE Jabari Zuniga, RB La’Mical Perine)
Las Vegas Raiders – 2023 (LB Amari Burney)
Philadelphia Eagles – 2016 (DE Alex McCalister)
Pittsburgh Steelers – 2012 (RB Chris Rainey)
San Francisco 49ers – 2024 (WR Ricky Pearsall)
Seattle Seahawks – 2021 (WR Stone Forsythe)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2021 (QB Kyle Trask)
Tennessee Titans – 2025 (WR Chimere Dike)
Washington Commanders – 2015 (RB Matt Jones)

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