Giants draft Deonte Banks in first round of NFL Draft
The New York Giants were slated to pick at 25, but the proposition of selecting Maryland corner Deonte Banks proved to be too enticing, as the Giants moved up one spot to select Banks. Trading with the Jacksonville Jaguars to move from 25 to 24, the Giants only gave up a pair of day two […]
The New York Giants were slated to pick at 25, but the proposition of selecting Maryland corner Deonte Banks proved to be too enticing, as the Giants moved up one spot to select Banks.
Trading with the Jacksonville Jaguars to move from 25 to 24, the Giants only gave up a pair of day two picks to do so, including a fifth-rounder (160th overall) and seventh-rounder (240th) overall.
Banks isn't noted for his ball production, but he is an elite athlete and one of the more uniform defensive backs in the draft. His size and speed combo (6'0", nearly 200 pounds, and 4.35 speed) put him in rarified air amongst his contemporaries.
Banks had a terrific 2022 season, including eight pass breakups, 38 tackles and intercepting one pass in 12 games across nine starts. While the ball production seems slight, that's because teams decided to avoid his side of the field.
A to Z Sports' Tyler Browning evaluated Banks and wrote the following:
Stays on top of his man. Uses slingshot technique very well to propel himself to make a play on the ball. Long corner. Able to stay in receivers hip pockets quite well. Likes to have hands on the receiver and feel their route develop. Good technique in man, doesn’t open his hips too early. Occasionally jams with the wrong hand when in press. Shows the ability to squeeze receivers towards the sideline. Had a phenomenal press rep vs Ohio State in 2022.Below is The Athletic's Dane Brugler's scouting report, as well:
Dane Brugler from The Athletic offered the following on Banks:
A four-year starter at Maryland, Banks was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Brian Williams’ balanced scheme. After missing almost all of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury, he got better as the 2022 season went on, including a strong performance versus Ohio State (and Marvin Harrison Jr.) that showed the strengths and weaknesses of his game. A cover-and-clobber corner, Banks has the competitive makeup and smooth hips/feet to become a receiver’s shadow in man coverage.
