Kelvin Banks Jr. off to impressive start as Saints’ LT of future

By Ross Jackson

New Orleans Saints first-round rookie and left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is already catching the eyes of many for his stellar performances in the team’s first preseason games. 

Over two matchups, one with the Los Angeles Chargers and the other against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Banks has not surrendered a single pressure. 

Kelvin Banks Jr through two preseason games (23 pass pro snaps):

• 0 pressures
• 0 sacks
• 0 hurries
• 0 QB hits
• 90.1 pass block effectiveness grade

Good start for the top 10 pick at LT. pic.twitter.com/eGwsNBUm2n

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) August 18, 2025

The former Texas Longhorn also has not been whistled for a penalty over his 38 offensive snaps. 

Banks has played a sound, productive and clean game from his earliest opportunities. That’s great news for New Orleans who invested the No. 9 overall selection in Banks during this year’s draft. 

The team decided to keep him deployed at his collegiate position of left tackle while moving last year’s first-round selection Taliese Fuaga back to right tackle, where he played at Oregon State. Fuaga has only allowed one pressure over his 27 preseason snaps as well. 

New Orleans was hoping that, with the selection of Banks, it would have its tackle tandem of the future. It’s early still, but so far that expectation is off to a promising start.