Will This Former 2023 Draft Pick Deliver or Will Growing Pains Persist?

The New York Football Giants have been expecting a lot out of their cornerback Deonte Banks since Big Blue drafted him. Banks was drafted as the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has had plenty of highs and lows playing on the field. This season, the Giants are looking for him to be bigger than he has been in the past two seasons, in which he has been a part of their defensive back group. Banks can either do great this season or be a complete bust. 

This season can only go one of two ways for him. This cornerback is entering his third year with the Giants, and he has grown a lot. He played well in both of his regular seasons with New York. Banks appeared and started in 29 games total, with 29 starts. He made 116 tackles, 92 solo and 24 assisted, defended 23 passes, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. 

In his rookie year, he was able to help the defensive back group without any issues. Banks played 15 games, starting in all of them with primary defensive production. An area in which the Giants struggled previously before they drafted him. Banks only missed two games that season due to injury. It was at the end of the regular season, so the Giants didn’t struggle much despite everything they were going through. The rebuild at the time had pretty much just begun. 

Since then, he has grown more valuable with all the experience he has gained. This cornerback has elite speed, physicality at the line of scrimmage, and improved instincts on zone schemes. Banks has all of the tools he needs to be a true cornerback. If he can capitalize on more turnover opportunities and stay healthy for the season, he could emerge as a top player on the Giants and be a rising star in the NFL. 

While Banks can potentially have a breakout season this year, there are still a few concerns. Last season, there was some struggle to be consistent in coverage. If this continues, opposing quarterbacks will find a way to target him more often. Staying healthy will also be critical, and questions about whether he makes the plays could resurface. He needs to take a step forward in ball production or tighten up his technique. 

It’s only up to Banks how he wants to make his NFL season happen. He needs to get a little more going for him on the field and help out when needed. This cornerback is a part of an elite and well-rebuilt defense that could have a breakthrough this season. If he can have a season like he did in his rookie year, there will be no issues. Since the injuries, he has not bounced back, so last season was a little harder for him. Training camps will prove what he is capable of and what the Giants will need him to do, going forward.