Kelvin Banks Jr. slips slightly in the first round of the NFL Draft

Kelvin Banks Jr. was the first Texas Longhorn to hear his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft and was the second-overall offensive tackle to be picked. Now, the OT is heading to the league, and it's with a team that just makes sense.

With the ninth pick of the Draft, the New Orleans Saints selected Banks, putting their money on the line with the 21-year-old tackle. The Saints, who gave up 37 sacks last season, desperately need to beef up their offensive line, and Banks does just that.

Despite many mock drafts projecting Banks to go within the top six picks, the former Longhorn was beaming with pride and excitement after receiving the call that he would be a Saint. New Orleans' Caesars Superdome is less than eight hours from the Horns' home at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

The Texas native was born to be a Longhorn and spent the last three seasons with Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian. Last season, Banks won both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Trophy as the best offensive lineman in all of college football.

Kelvin Banks Jr. measurables

• 6-foot-4
• 320 pounds
• 40-yard dash: 5.16 seconds

To put it lightly, no pun intended, Banks is huge. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, the OT towers over his teammates and his opponents. He wasn't the biggest offensive tackle in the draft class, but he has an impressive ability to rapidly move his larger frame.

Kelvin Banks Jr. college career stats

• 42 games played
• 2,778 offensive snaps
• 4 sacks allowed
• 4 hits allowed
• 26 hurries allowed

Which players were drafted ahead of Kelvin Banks Jr.?

1. Cam Ward - Quarterback - Tennessee Titans
2. Travis Hunter - Wide receiver/Cornerback - Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Abdul Carter - EDGE - New York Giants
4. Will Campbell - Offensive tackle - New England Patriots
5. Mason Graham - Defensive tackle - Cleveland Browns
6. Ashton Jeanty - Running back - Las Vegas Raiders
7. Armand Membou - Offensive tackle - New York Jets
8. Tetairoa McMillan - Wide receiver - Carolina Panthers
9. Kelvin Banks Jr. - Offensive tackle - New Orleans Saints

Two other offensive tackles were drafted ahead of Banks. LSU's Will Campbell was selected fourth overall by the New England Patriots and Missouri's Armand Membou was picked seventh by the New York Jets.