Mock Draft Monday: Giants Select This Defensive Back in Latest CBS Mock Draft

The Giants figure to address a critical need on defense in the draft, one they've yet to address in free agency, in this latest mock draft.

A team can never have too many cornerbacks, especially if Wink Martindale runs that team's defense. So in his latest mock draft, CBS Sports writer Josh Edwards is mocking a cornerback to Martindale's defense at pick No. 25 in next month's draft.

Edwards projects Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks will be the Giants' pick once they go on the clock, a pick that would make a lot of sense for the Giants. New York has Adoree' Jackson scheduled to return for one more season.

Meanwhile, Fabian Moreau, who took over for an injured Aaron Robinson last year, is an unrestricted free agent, and the rest of the cornerback depth, including Cor'Dale Flott, is an unknown for the long term.

What Deonte Banks brings to the table

Banks has all the athleticism to be a great cornerback in the NFL. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he finished with an athleticism score of 98, which was first among all participating cornerbacks. His blistering speed (4.35) and impressive leaping abilities (42 in. vertical) were also noticed. According to Next Gen Stats, Banks’ Prospect Grade is 6.37, which means he can become a starter.

Banks is currently the seventh-ranked cornerback by NFL Draft Bible, who disputes Banks's worthiness of being a first-round selection, noting, "Banks is a well-built, poised corner who allows minimal separation on vertical and comeback routes, but he lacks the speed and suddenness to contend for a first-round selection."

NFL Draft Bible further states of Banks:

He’s a well-built corner with good but not elite arm length. Banks has the mass and play strength to contribute as a run defender. He challenges wide receiver blocks with aggressive hands and fights through them to the ball carrier. Missed tackles weren’t a concern for Banks in 2022, but they could be in the future, considering he doesn’t always square up and drive through ball carriers. He is quick to read and close on short throws and is excellent at attacking the ball at the catch point. Banks is patient when sitting in press coverage before getting in phase. He suffers from some false steps when lined up directly over the receiver, but his patient nature usually allows him to avoid serious missteps. The Maryland native has fluid hips to swivel and adjust his positioning. He squeezes outside releases along the sideline and has little to no trouble staying attached to receivers on vertical routes despite not possessing great speed. Banks remains attached to receivers at the top of comeback and stick routes.

Banks has good size (6-0, 197 lbs). His communication skills are solid, which comes in handy when fellow defenders are switching. Also, he has experience playing in a lot of coverage schemes, which should be welcome to Martindale's "positionless" defense.

But as NFL Draft Bible notes, he needs to improve in not getting beaten off the line of scrimmage when he panics and struggles to find the ball. He also needs to become a better defender against the run, which includes keeping contain.

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RELATED:

• Draft Prospect Profile: CB Deonte Banks, by Nick Falato

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How Banks Fits with Giants

Having a bigger cornerback like Banks, who can play in almost any coverage, would be huge for a Giants defense that finished tied-for-last in interceptions (6) and was middle-of-the-pack in passing yards allowed per game (214.0). Pairing him with another speedster in ’ Jackson (4.3 speed) could be very intriguing, as an NFL defense can never have enough speed.

Adding a talented cornerback with a lot of upside to the eighth-worst total defense in football would go a long way toward filling an important need.

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