He may not have cracked the list of top 10 rookies in Madden NFL 26, but on the actual field, Kelvin Banks Jr. looked every bit the part of a top-10 draft pick. The rookie left tackle made an impressive first impression in Sunday’s preseason opener for the New Orleans Saints, delivering a performance that turned heads both on the sideline and in the analyst booth.
In limited action — just 20 offensive snaps against the Los Angeles Chargers — Banks displayed the poise, technique, and athleticism that the Saints hoped for when they selected him in this year’s draft. Most notably, he was flawless in pass protection during his 12 reps in that phase of the game. Banks didn’t allow a single quarterback pressure, wasn’t beaten once by his pass rusher, and avoided committing any penalties — a notable feat for a first-year player adjusting to the speed and complexity of NFL defenses.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Banks earned an 84.9 grade in pass protection for his debut outing. That ranked second among all rookie offensive linemen during the opening week of preseason action. The only rookie to post a higher mark was Esa Poe, an undrafted free-agent left tackle with the Kansas City Chiefs, who graded out at 85.2 for his work against the Arizona Cardinals. Poe’s Chiefs teammate, Dalton Cooper, came in third with an 83.9 grade.
Those rankings put Banks in elite rookie company, and the numbers tell only part of the story. His technique was clean, with a balanced stance and quick hand placement neutralizing speed rushers. He also demonstrated the agility to mirror defenders on the edge and the strength to hold his ground against power moves. Saints coaches have been working closely with him on transitioning from college-level pass sets to NFL-style protection schemes, and the early signs are that he’s adjusting quickly.
The performance may also have early-season implications. The Saints are scheduled to host the Cardinals in September, meaning Banks could potentially face Arizona’s pass rush, which just saw Poe dominate in his own debut. Given Poe’s success and Cooper’s strong showing against the same team, it suggests that New Orleans’ rookie left tackle might find himself in a favorable matchup if the Cardinals’ defensive front continues to struggle against young linemen.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen praised Banks in his postgame remarks, noting that while the sample size was small, the fundamentals were encouraging. “You want to see a young player come in and play with confidence, and Kelvin did exactly that,” Allen said. “He kept his quarterback clean, stayed disciplined, and didn’t panic under pressure. That’s what we’re looking for.”
For a franchise that has been looking to solidify its offensive line after recent injury troubles, Banks’ emergence could be a major boost. Protecting the quarterback — whether it’s veteran Derek Carr or rookie backup Spencer Rattler — is a priority for an offense that hopes to rebound after an inconsistent 2024 campaign. If Banks continues to build on this debut, he could lock down the left tackle spot much sooner than expected.
Preseason football is often about glimpses — moments that hint at what a player can become. For Kelvin Banks Jr., Sunday was more than just a glimpse. It was a statement that he’s ready to compete at the highest level, and that the Saints might have found themselves a cornerstone for years to come
