5 NY Giants first-round targets who stood out at the NFL Combine

2. Maryland CB Deonte Banks

While Deonte Banks was easily going in the first two rounds of the draft, he undoubtedly sealed his fate as a first-round pick after what he displayed at the Combine. Most people knew Banks was an athletic freak, but we’re not sure anyone expected his athleticism to be this off the charts.

At the Combine, Banks ran a 4.35 40-yard dash, he had a 42-inch vertical, and posted an 11’4 broad jump. Obviously the Combine isn’t everything for a player, but we have seen how much a great performance can boost a player’s draft stock, most notably with Travon Walker last year.

In 12 games last season, Banks racked up 35 combined tackles while allowing just 26 receptions on 60 targets for 258 yards and four touchdowns. While four touchdowns is more than we’d like to see a top prospect allow, it is not the end of the world. Not only is Banks outstanding in coverage, but unlike some of the other top prospects in the draft, he is great against the run, missing just one tackle on his 36 attempts.

He may have some things from a footwork standpoint he needs to work on, but there are no doubts that the combination of athleticism and intangibles are good enough to make him worthy of being selected in the first round. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale would love to have him, no doubt.