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Two Florida Gators Make ESPN’s First-Round Mock Draft

79417-removebg-preview (1)by: Corey Bender08/20/25Corey_Bender
Caleb-Banks-Florida-Gators
Florida DL Caleb Banks. (Photo by Victoria Riccobono/UAA Communications)

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Field Yates released his first look at next year’s draft this week, projecting all 32 first-round picks. Florida landed two players on the list, with offensive tackle Austin Barber and defensive tackle Caleb Banks both projected to come off the board in the middle of Round 1.

For Billy Napier’s program, the recognition shows the type of NFL-caliber talent the Gators continue to produce in the trenches. Barber, a steady presence on Florida’s offensive line, is expected to anchor protection for quarterback DJ Lagway this fall. As for Banks, he has turned into one of the SEC’s most disruptive interior linemen and is poised for another big year.

Yates has Barber going No. 12 overall to the Cleveland Browns, using a pick acquired from the Jaguars.

“We got a new QB for the Browns at No. 1 in this mock draft. Now, they have to improve the protection with their other pick, courtesy of the Jaguars via the Travis Hunter trade. Insert Barber, who has excellent length and extensive experience as both a right and left tackle,” Yates wrote.

“Barber can really bend and pass protect, something he’ll do at a high-stakes level this season in manning the blind side for 2027 QB prospect DJ Lagway. He allowed three sacks last season over 13 starts. The Browns need to get younger along the offensive line; they allowed 66 sacks last season, second most in the league.”

Is Caleb Banks the SEC’s top defensive lineman?

Just one pick later, Yates projected Banks to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 13, highlighting his size and disruptive ability.

“The Cowboys enter the 2025 season looking to right some of the wrongs from their forgettable 2024. One big area of concern is the interior defensive line. Their porous run D (4.8 yards allowed per carry, tied for third worst) cannot continue if they want to keep contending in the NFC. Banks could help fix it,” said Yates.

“He has outstanding size at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, but he also displays the quickness and power to be a disruptive interior rusher. He began his career at Louisville, but his best college season came in 2024, when he had 4.5 sacks for the Gators — including 2.5 in his dominant game against Ole Miss.”

Both Barber and Banks have the chance to raise their stock even further with strong performances in 2025, but Yates’ preseason mock makes it clear NFL scouts are already keeping close tabs.

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