Mel Kiper’s early 2026 NFL mock draft has the Denver Broncos beefing up their already-talented defensive line.

Kiper has the Broncos landing Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks late in the first round, a slide after Banks was hindered by injuries in 2025. Here is Kiper’s commentary on the mock selection:

Injuries limited Banks to three games this past season, but I enjoyed watching his 2024 tape. He had 4.5 sacks that campaign, getting some good interior push. But his real impact is as a run defender: At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, he stuffs ball carriers and makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. This would be a depth addition for Denver. He could learn from Zach Allen and help keep the elite Broncos defense among the league’s best units down the road.

Denver has led the NFL in sacks in each of the last two seasons, but with John Franklin-Myers scheduled to hit free agency in March, they could use more depth on the defensive line. The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Mel Kiper NFL mock draft: Denver Broncos select DL Caleb Banks