• With the ninth pick overall, New Orleans selected Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

• Banks was the 60th first round pick taken by the Saints all-time (including quarterback Dave Wilson taken in

the first round of the 1981 Supplemental Draft).

• This is the first time New Orleans has picked from the ninth overall slot in the NFL Draft.

• Since the 2015 NFL Draft, the Saints have used first round picks on offensive linemen or defensive linemen nine times. Offensive linemen included among these first round picks over that period are three-time Pro Bowl guard/tackle Andrus Peat (2015), three-time Associated Press All-Pro right tackle Ryan Ramczyk (2017), guard Cesar Ruiz (2020), tackle Trevor Penning (2022) and tackle Taliese Fuaga, who was an All-Rookie selection in 2024.

• Banks, 6 feet 5, 315 pounds, who was a three-year starter in Austin, was the 10th tackle taken in the first round by the club. Only defensive ends (11) have been taken more frequently than tackles. He is the 51st tackle selected by the club all-time. With the Saints having selected Fuaga with the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, this is the first time the Saints have selected tackles in back-to-back drafts with their top overall pick.

• Banks was the eighth Texas player picked by New Orleans in the NFL Draft, the third former Longhorn picked in the first round by the Black and Gold, joining safety Kenny Vaccaro (13th overall in 2013) and running back Ricky Williams (fifth overall in 1999). Texas is tied with Pittsburgh and Tulane for producing the 15th most Saints draft selections.

• Banks was the seventh Texas tackle ever taken in the first round of the NFL Draft, the second Saints tackle taken from Texas (Bob Simmons, 1976, Round 3b, No. 77).

• Banks joins linebacker Jaylan Ford as the second former Texas player currently on the Saints roster, as well as defensive passing game coordinator Terry Joseph, who served on the Longhorns defensive coaching staff for Banks' three years in Austin and defensive line coach Bo Davis, who served in the same position for Banks' first two years at Texas.

• In three seasons at Texas, Banks played in 42 games he started at left tackle and was a two-time consensus All-American.

• In 2024, Banks started all 15 games he appeared in for the Longhorns, who advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He was selected as the Lombardi Trophy Winner and Outland Trophy winner and was part of a Longhorns line that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, recognizing the nation's best offensive line. He was a unanimous first-team All-American and All Southeastern Conference selection.

• In 2023, Banks was a second-team All-American and a unanimous first-team All-Big-12 selection, opening all 14 games he played in.

• As a freshman in 2022, he started all 13 games and was a second-team All-Big-12 selection by the conference head coaches and The Associated Press and was selected a FWAA Freshman All- American.

• Banks prepped at Summer Creek (Humble, Texas) High School, where he was a high school All-American and four-time all-district honoree. As a senior in 2021, he helped Summer Creek to a 10-4 record, with an appearance in the 6A Division 2 quarterfinals.