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Giants Trade Up to Select Deonte Banks in First Round

The Giants addressed one of their biggest glaring needs on defense in the first round.

Patricia Traina

Giants Trade Up to Select Deonte Banks in First Round
Giants Trade Up to Select Deonte Banks in First Round /
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The New York Giants couldn't have scripted a better first round of the NFL Draft.

The Giants, rumored to be considering trading up or down in the first round, ended up trading up one spot to grab Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks. The trade saw the Giants and Jaguars swamp first-round picks, with the Giants throwing in picks 160 (fifth round) and 240 (seventh round) to move up one spot to secure Banks.

"The way it went down and the way the board fell, we were getting depleted," Giants general manager Joe Schoen said of the decision to trade up one spot.

"So it was the right thing to do for us. We do a lot of research on team needs, and what people need behind us, and including the team that we traded with. So that was a scenario we put together early in the day if we got there, and we were worried about anybody else coming up to that position. We had something in place with Jacksonville and it worked out." 

The Giants, who also had Joey Porter, Jr on the board to choose from, clearly liked Banks's skill set better to give up draft capital.

Why the Giants Made the Move

Giants general manager Joe Schoen spoke of wanting to close the talent gap between the Giants and the Eagles and Cowboys, and one of the most glaring ways to do that was not addressed in free agency was to add depth at cornerback.

In Banks, the Giants added a tall, lengthy, and physical cornerback with experience playing in various coverages, including press-man and zone; look no further than the caliber of receivers present in the NFC East.

"He's a prototype from a size standpoint. He's athletic. He's physical. He can run. He ran 4.32 at the Combine," Schoen said when asked what he liked about Banks.

"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. And we spent a lot of time with him. Met with him at the Combine. He's a guy that, you know, we went down to the pro day, and we spent a good amount of time with him, and again we felt comfortable with him."

Scouting Reports

Inside Football: Big, physical corner (6’0”-200). Smooth mover. Loose hips. He can swivel in his pedal. Great top-end speed (4.35 40). Strong and tough. Very good tackler. I can handle all the rough stuff. He seems to enjoy playing press. Good hand usage. Solid reactions in the zone and off coverage. Not very instinctive. Slow to find the ball. Boundary corner only. The game needs a bit more discipline.

Nick Falato: [See full scouting report here.] Deonte Banks is a sudden, fluid athlete who can play man, zone, or zone-match type of defense. He handled several responsibilities at Maryland and was one of the better outside cornerbacks in the country last season. A coaching staff will appreciate his physical nature, his mirroring ability, and the tenacity he brings to the catch point.

I really love Banks’ game, but I wish he was a bit better with his press technique. He’s also grab-happy and will draw yellow laundry when baited by double moves on the vertical plane in one-on-one situations.

If you’re looking for a coverage player with elite athletic ability and press upside -- like the Giants are currently looking for -- then Deonte Banks could be your guy.

NFL Draft Bible: Banks has received starting snaps since his freshman season in 2019. Banks has roughly 1,500 defensive snaps, and 315 special teams snaps to his name. 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.

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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