The New York Giants filled a need and also upgraded their whole defense when they selected Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks with the 24th overall selection in this year’s NFL draft on Thursday night.
What are they getting in Banks? A natural fit for coordinator Wink Martindale’s scheme, which is predicated on press corners and overall pressure.
“He’s a prototype from a size standpoint (6-foot tall, 197 pounds),” said Giants general manager Joe Schoen.
“He’s athletic. He’s physical. He can run. He ran 4.32 at the Combine. He has arm length, big hands. He’s been a four-year starter. He was hurt a year ago but he has played a lot of ball there at Maryland and schematically, he’s a good fit.”
Banks will also provide the Giants some added versatility.
“He’s played a lot of press man-to-man,” said Giants head coach Brian Daboll. “Again, we play a variety of defenses with our system but he’s played a heavy amount of man-to-man coverage and press and he’s strong. He’s got good length. He’s got good quickness, good speed.
“He was around the ball quite a bit. There was a lot of pass breakups. He can match receivers. Again, it’s new for all these young guys coming in, but I think he’s a good player. I’m glad we got him.”
Banks started all four seasons at Maryland and is used to playing in big spots and against top competition in the Big Ten. He played in 11 games as a freshman in 2019, starting eight and recording 28 tackles (22 solo) with one interception and two passes defensed.
2020 was a lost season due to COVID-19. The Terps only played five games but Banks appeared all five, starting three. The next season was lost, too, as Banks played in just two games due to a shoulder injury.
Last year, Banks excelled, garnering honorable mention All-Big Ten honors after totaling 38 tackles (25 solo), eight passes defensed, one interception, and a half-sack.
Banks’ strengths as per NFL Network draft analyst Lance Zierlein:
- Experienced in a wide variety of coverages.
- Outstanding size and length as outside corner.
- Lateral slide to mirror and slow the release.
- Uses independent hands to reroute receiver.
- Lower body is fluid and smooth to swivel from his pedal.
- Adequate gather-and-go footwork when phasing the route.
- Passes off receivers with clear communication in zone.
- Play strength to attack and play through perimeter blocks.
Banks will challenge a very inexperienced Giants defensive backs room for a starting role. Veteran Adoree’ Jackson will be one starter on the outside but the other wing is wide open.
The other candidates for that job include Aaron Robinson, Cor’Dale Flott, Rodarius Williams, Leonard Johnson, and Amani Oruwariye. Banks should rise quickly up the depth chart here but nothing is a given.
“Everybody has got to earn their role,” said Daboll. “Come in, throw him in the mix. Again we think he’s a good player. Obviously, we drafted him in the first round, but everybody here has to earn their role and come in there and compete.”
Expect to see Banks used in a myriad of roles to take advantage of his natural gifts.
“Banks profiles as a big, physical corner who has surprisingly smooth transitions in and out of breaks to match and mirror wide receivers,” writes The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez.
“Banks has shown the ability to play both press and odd coverage at a high level. In press, Banks shows to be very physical and wants to get into physical combat with receivers because he is confident in his natural strength to disrupt the timing of their release and route…a physically impressive cornerback with plus-level height and length. He also has rare reactionary athleticism for a corner his size, showing the ability to flip his hips run vertical, then sink his hips and break back downhill toward the ball.”
Martindale was “ecstatic” when the Giants selected Banks. Let’s see what these two can do together.
