The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Kelvin Banks Jr. goes ninth overall to the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the NFL Draft
04.24.2025 | Football
The 2024 Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy winner went ninth overall in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night.
GREEN BAY, Wisc. – Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft Thursday evening.
Banks is the 48th first-round NFL Draft choice in Texas history and is the 25th Longhorn selected among the top-10 picks of the NFL Draft. He becomes the first Texas offensive lineman picked in the first round since Mike Williams in 2002. The Longhorns have had a first-round pick in each of the last three NFL Drafts. That marks the first time Texas has done that since having a first-rounder four years in-a-row from 2004-07. It's just the fourth time in school history the Longhorns have had an NFL Draft first-rounder at least three years in a row (the others: 4 from 1977-81 and 3 from 1947-49).
This is the second-straight year New Orleans has drafted a Longhorn after selecting LB Jaylan Ford in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. Banks also becomes the fourth Longhorn to be chosen by the Saints in the first round all-time, including S Kenny Vaccaro at 15th overall in 2013, RB Ricky Williams at fifth overall in 1999, and K Russell Erxleben at 11th overall in 1979.
"I think Kelvin's your perfect Longhorn," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "I've said this all along, I would tell any player coming into our program, if you want to be great, be like Kelvin Banks. His demeanor, his work ethic, his drive, his attention to detail, his ability to remain consistent in his approach on and off the field, it all shows in his play. He's a high-level player who obviously has all the measurables that the NFL is looking for in a great left tackle, and he started there for us from the day he arrived as a freshman. In just his second career start, he had to block (Alabama's) Will Anderson and Dallas Turner as a true freshman and didn't flinch. He had a great game, and that was just the beginning of a tremendous career here at Texas."
"Kelvin had to block so many of the premier defensive ends in the country during his time here, but the thing about him that I know the NFL really values, and we do too, is reliability. You can absolutely count on him. He was here every day and showed up with a constant level of consistency – who he was some of the time was who he was all of the time. When you can couple that with the skill set, the measurables and knowing that he's still only played three years of college football, he is an absolute no-brainer of a first-round pick. He's accomplished so much, but his best days are still ahead of him, and the Saints are so fortunate to have him."
As a junior, Banks became the 25th Longhorn (28th time) to be selected as a unanimous First-Team All-American. The 2024 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award recipient, Banks was named a first-team All-American by the AFCA, Associated Press, FWAA, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. A three-year starter at left tackle for the Longhorns, Banks was a key member of the Texas offensive line that was tabbed a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the nation's most outstanding offensive line unit. Individually, he also won the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the top offensive lineman in the conference and was a first-team All-SEC selection. Banks received multiple weekly honors this past season, including the Outland Trophy's National Player of the Week on Oct. 15, and SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice (Sept. 30 and Oct. 14). Prior to the season, Banks was named preseason first-team All-America by The Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sporting News and The Athletic in addition to being honored on the preseason first-team All-SEC by the media and league's coaches.
Banks played in and started 43 games during his three-year career on the Forty Acres. During the 2024 season, Banks anchored a UT offensive line that protected for QB Quinn Ewers, who completed 293-of-445 passes (65.8 percent) for 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns while averaging 248.0 yards per contest in 14 starts. Ewers finished sixth in the FBS in passing touchdowns (31), 14th in passing yards (3,472), 14th in points responsible for (202), 25th in passing efficiency (149), 26th in passing yards per game (248.0), 26th in completion percentage (65.8 percent), and 27th in completions per game (20.93). Banks was a part of a balanced Longhorn offense that averaged 278.8 passing yards (14th FBS), 158.8 rushing yards and 33 points (29th FBS) per game. Banks blocked for running backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner rushing for 1,064 yards on the season.
QUOTES FROM KELVIN BANKS JR.
On getting the phone call:
It felt great. It was awesome, kind of like everyone has always said, it's a dream come true. Not knowing where you're going to go, being anxious, and once you feel your phone vibrate and you answer the phone and you hear the GM and head coach talking to you, it's kind of a surreal moment, so it was very exciting for me.
On if he thought the Saints were an option ahead of time:
Yeah, I definitely felt like they were an option. I felt like my meter was from like position No. 6 and down from there, so I knew it was an option, and I felt pretty confident when I talked to the Saints at the combine, and they felt pretty confident in my obviously since they picked me, but I knew it was a decision that could be made.
On his combine meeting and any other interaction:
At the combine, it was definitely a good meeting for me. I went in and drew up some play schemes, but also just getting to see what type of organization they are, and them getting to see what type of person I am. So we had a great meeting there, and at pro day, (New Orleans offensive line) coach (Brendan) Nugent, he ran a drill there, too, so we got to interact a little bit on the football aspect, so it was definitely good communication.
On his memories of New Orleans having played in the Sugar Bowl:
I haven't been to New Orleans a whole lot, but I have a lot of family from Louisiana, and my best friend is from that area too, so I feel like it's kind of an at-home situation for me. I don't think I'll feel out of place at all coming to the city of New Orleans and feeling comfortable.
I remember going into that stadium (in the Sugar Bowl) and just seeing how electrifying it was, even though it wasn't the Saints, it was our team, but just seeing how electrifying it was and how much energy was coming out of that stadium. I know it will be a good experience once I put that Saints helmet on.
On playing at the next level close to home:
It's very gratifying, just because I could have went anywhere, but the Saints chose me, and it's basically right down the street, so I get to see my family a bunch and they get to come to all the home games whenever they want to really. It's definitely a good feeling.
On how starting from day one at Texas helped him:
It meant a lot, just having to grow up fast. Going from being a guy who's 17 years old and doesn't have to worry about much and demolishing guys in high school, to now you're in college and guys are just as good as you and just as big as you who are going to come after you every day just because they want to make it to moments like this, so it meant a lot. I had to grow up and become a man early in my college career.
On Jaylan Ford being with the Saints:
Yeah, we were pretty tight. Jaylan Ford when I was there, he was one of the O.G.s there, so he was definitely a guy you looked up to and followed for leadership and just how hard he played.
On how well he feels prepared for this next step coming out of Texas:
I feel really prepared. Coming out of a prestigious program like Texas, that's what it prepares you for. It prepares you for moments like this, especially with Coach Flood and Coach Sark, those are like the key guys to take your game to the next level and get you to the next level.
On who he has heard from already from Texas:
I got a lot of text messages, but I've been on zooms with the Saints, so I haven't had a chance to respond yet, but Jahdae Barron called me instantly, so I was able to talk to him and Michael Taaffe and Andrew Mukuba. They were all there, and it was great talking to them.
On how good it is to be part of a Longhorn tradition that almost no matter where he goes in the NFL, someone he knows will be there:
It makes me feel good, because it makes the process so much easier, especially with Jaylan Ford with a new organization and new facility, and making my life easier, knowing I have someone I can go to no matter what.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"He is everything you want your organization to represent."
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 25, 2025
- Kellen Moore on the #Saints selecting Kelvin Banks Jr.#SaintsDraft | @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/MgS0CuFPKB
Kelvin Banks Jr., YOU are a New Orleans Saint 📞@Kelvinbanksjr12 ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/tC3Nio9fUV
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 25, 2025
Kelvin Banks Jr. is officially a New Orleans Saint 🤘
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 25, 2025
📺 #NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFL Network/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/SpobG7PxDQ
With the 9th pick in the Draft, the #Saints select
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 25, 2025
Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr. 💪#SaintsDraft | @CoxComm pic.twitter.com/Npuz1qiZCW
Kelvin Banks Jr. is headed to New Orleans 🤘@Kelvinbanksjr12 x @Saints pic.twitter.com/XbO5Tdffmm
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 25, 2025
✅ Unanimous All-American
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 25, 2025
✅ Lombardi Award winner
✅ Outland Trophy Winner
✅ Top 10 Draft Pick
Texas Made 🤘 @Kelvinbanksjr12 pic.twitter.com/qqc0fEIFpc
