Trevor RipleySep 4, 2026
Ripley argues Vikings rookie DT Caleb Banks, despite a slow start, could work their way into significant snaps and win the 2026 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, posting around five or six sacks and possibly an interception.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Trevor Ripley said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromFive or six sacks, a dozen tackles for loss and maybe an interception or two into Banks's big mitts may be enough for him to shock everyone and win DROY.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Analyzing What Caleb Banks Needs to Do to Win Defensive Rookie of the Year
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Caleb Banks to record 5–6 sacks“Five or six sacks, a dozen tackles for loss and maybe an interception or two”
- 2Caleb Banks to win Defensive Rookie of the Year“Caleb Banks' path to the 2026 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award may be smoother than it appears... may be enough for him to shock everyone and win DROY.”
- 3Caleb Banks to be 1st on the depth chart“there's a very real path where Banks works his way up into the starting lineup rather quickly”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Banks to record 5–6 sacks1 | Player Season Numbers | — | — | — | — | |
| Caleb Banks to win Defensive Rookie of the Year2 | Award Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Caleb Banks to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 1 award pick, 1 depth chart call and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
1Player Season NumbersCaleb BanksMinnesota Vikings
Caleb Banks to record 5–6 sacks
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Award PicksCaleb BanksMinnesota Vikings
Caleb Banks to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsCaleb BanksMinnesota Vikings
Caleb Banks to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.Justin Penik · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Jones · Hit 100
Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Sam Darnold · Miss 0
Eisen expects Sam Darnold to remain in Minnesota rather than leave in free agency, and believes the Browns will trade Myles Garrett out of the conference, to an NFC team.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.