The New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen had their target in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft and traded up to select him.
The Giants dealt a few late-round picks to move up one spot to No. 24 where they selected Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks.
Entering the draft, it was clear that cornerback was a need not just for this coming season but for next season as well. Adoree’ Jackson is the team’s bonafide No. 1 but he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next March.
Banks provides the Giants a quality No. 2 with the potential to become an eventual No. 1.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein views Banks as an eventual “plus starter.”
Perimeter corner with desired blend of size, strength and athleticism. Banks is capable of release disruption from press. He plays with smooth hips and easy feet to pedal and glide around the field. He’s capable of matching the release and running with his opponent. However, he struggles to play with poise and awareness when his back is to the football. He needs to play with better route anticipation and reactive quickness at the break point, but his eye-popping NFL Scouting Combine testing and scheme versatility should create interest from a wide range of NFL teams. Banks has first-round traits and could become a CB1 if he can play with better discipline when challenged.
In a division filled with strong, big-bodied wide receivers, Banks can step in and neutralize some of those mismatches. He has good size (6-foot, 200 pounds) and possesses explosive athletic ability.
