Although offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. has seen his stock decrease lately, there still could be a way for him to be a top-15 pick. He reportedly held a private workout last week with Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris, according to Brian Davis of the Austin-American Statesman. At the moment, Atlanta owns the 15th overall pick.
The meeting was a promising sign for Banks, who was projected to be the No.31 pick by Mel Kipper in his mock draft on March 18. Kipper blamed inconsistencies and injury for the decline. While some may be down on Banks, he is still coming off an impressive career at Texas that included various awards.
After missing the SEC Championship game against Georgia, Banks finished the season strong against Ohio State. With him in the lineup, Texas had one of the best offenses in football. He helped give Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers plenty of time in the pocket. Due to his play, the Texas native earned Lombardi, Outland, and Jackson Blocking Trophies.
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He also shined at the NFL Combine, where analyst Lance Zierlein said he saw Banks as a long-term starter.
"Banks has the slide quickness to deal with speed, but he must become more proactive in attacking power rushers and long-limbed attackers to prevent them from dictating the terms. He needs to improve his anchor and hand placement, but he should become a long-time NFL starter at either tackle or guard," Zierlein wrote.
With the NFL Draft only weeks away, many teams will be looking for a reliable offensive lineman. While the Falcons have made their interest known, Banks has the potential to be a really good player and should be on the draft board of multiple teams.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Kelvin Banks Jr. NFL Draft
