In a shallow edge rush draft, teams need to find other ways to pressure the quarterback. With the return of the Mack, at least for one year, the Chargers can look to the interior of their defensive line, and they do that with the selection of Florida’s Claeb Banks. At 6’6 and 327 pounds, he takes up space in the middle, but still has the quickness to get past guards and centers for sacks.

Banks only started three games for the Gators in 2025, thanks in large part to a nagging foot injury. Had he been healthy all year, he would have been a first-round pick and certainly not been available at 55. Over the course of his career in Gainesville, he did show positional versatility, which is something every defensive coordinator covets in a defensive lineman.

His size and speed at the point of attack force the defense into double teams, and that is good news for his teammates on the edge. His selection alone could get Mack an extra three or four sacks on the year. Chargers’ new DC, Chris O’Leary, may have his hands full teaching better tackling technique to Banks, who was able to get away with arm tackling in college, but won’t fly in the NFL.