Why the Chiefs might be willing to break their own o-line rules in the 2025 NFL Draft

Analyzing NFL Draft prospects is almost a year-round process for me. I typically start looking at the next class around June and follow them all the way through the next year's draft. Kelvin Banks Jr., an offensive tackle out of Texas, has been on my radar since last year, when I started looking at wide receivers Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell.

When I started taking a closer look at Banks earlier in this draft cycle, I labeled him a guard due to his body type and what most estimated to be sub-34-inch arms. Arm length has been a hard threshold for the Chiefs—since Andy Reid became the head coach, the Chiefs have never drafted a tackle with sub-34-inch arms.

There are many starting tackles in the NFL with sub-34-inch arms, including All-Pros Rashawn Slater and Penei Sewell, Alaric Jackson, Taliese Fuaga, and current Chiefs left tackle Jaylon Moore. Would the Chiefs be desperate enough to break this threshold to eventually solve their never-ending tackle dilemma? Is Kelvin Banks worth the gamble at pick 31 over other names such as Josh Simmons or Josh Conerly? Let's take a closer look.

NFL Draft Profile: Kelvin Banks Jr, Offensive Tackle, Texas

Age: 21

Height: 6-5

Weight: 315 LBS

Shades of: DJ Humphries

Background

A native Texan, Banks played his high school football at Summer Creek High. There, he was a four-time all-district player, an All-American, and was also selected to participate in the 2022 Under Armour All-America Game. He was a five-star recruit who originally committed to Oregon but then switched to Texas when Mario Cristobal left for Miami.

Banks was named the starting left tackle for the Longhorns as a true freshman. He started every game of his career at Texas except the 2024 SEC Championship against Georgia. Banks just turned 21 in March. His college honors include Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year as a freshman, Second Team All-Big 12 as a freshman, First Team All-Big 12 as a sophomore, and Second Team All-American in 2023.

Why Banks Fits the Chiefs

Movement skills – At Banks’ size, he is a natural athlete and a fluid mover. He creates consistent movement at the point of attack and is rarely caught off balance. His ability to get out of his stance allows him to recover easily, and he rarely looks hurried or panicked in his drop step.

Patience at the point of attack – Many young tackles fear space between themselves and the rusher. Banks respects this space and uses it to his advantage. His patience helps him block up on the second level and maintain the pocket. He is not a lunger in his pass protection.

Pass protection reps – Banks allowed 4 sacks and 20 pressures over his three-year career at Texas. With 383 true pass sets (non-play-action or RPO), he's an experienced pass blocker in an NFL-style offense that the Chiefs steal from often. He rarely loses, yet when he does, he doesn’t get beaten badly.

Concerns about Kelvin Banks

Lack of length – Stating the obvious again: the Chiefs have never invested a draft pick into a tackle with arms this short. At 33.5 inches, Banks is close but doesn’t meet the 34-inch threshold. At 6'5" and 315 lbs, he does match some similar body types the Chiefs have had on the roster, including Jaylon Moore (6'4", 311 lbs) and D.J. Humphries (6'5", 307 lbs). The lack of length can show at times, particularly against likely first-round pick Mykel Williams in the Georgia game.

Penalties – One of Banks' best traits is that he rarely loses badly, which means he can sometimes be grabby. He's also had some simple lapses in concentration, like false starts. Flagged twelve times over the last two seasons, it's an area for improvement.

Hand usage – Banks' grip strength is moderate, and he can struggle in close quarters with a rusher, forcing him to recover or "hold on" for recovery. Also, his hands sometimes seem too low on the initial punch. The punch is strong, but the placement needs work.

Final verdict on Kelvin Banks and the Chiefs

At some point, Chiefs fans must acknowledge that every draft expert with inside knowledge of the league keeps connecting the team to offensive tackles in the first round. The Chiefs have no real long-term commitments to either starting tackle—Jaylon Moore is on a modest two-year deal, and Jawaan Taylor is cheaper to cut than keep after 2025.

Even if Banks isn't the left tackle of the future, he could be the right tackle for 2026. Ideally, the Chiefs would like to see Jaylon Moore play well, but he's played right tackle as well, so he could move over next year if Banks takes the job outright.

Kelvin Banks Jr. has the profile of a Chiefs tackle—minus half an inch of arm length. We've seen the Chiefs bring in NFL veterans with sub-34-inch arms; is now the time to try it in the draft? Banks might be the safer prospect given the injury and maturity questions surrounding Josh Simmons. The Chiefs have to get serious about their never-ending tackle problems, and Banks might be the best option.