The New York Giants have had plenty of high draft picks in the past decade, coinciding with losing season after losing season. The hope was that, at some point, those top first-round picks pan out to become players the Giants can build around for the foreseeable future. But for the most part, there have been more misses than hits. Perhaps what was telling this past year was the Giants firing head coach Brian Daboll, but keeping general manager Joe Schoen. The message was clear in that they supported Schoen and the players he drafted, but they need a new coach to get the most out of these players.
One player who looked primed to be one of the Giants' biggest draft busts was cornerback Deonte Banks. He didn't play all that well since entering the NFL in 2023. But now, under Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, Banks has taken a huge leap forward in the right direction.
That was evident in Week 4, where Banks played the role of hero.
Deonte Banks has career-altering performance to help Giants defeat Cardinals in Week 4
The Giants didn't have the greatest of starts against the Cardinals, where they found themselves down 14-3 early on. One of the big plays the Giants surrendered was a touchdown catch by Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The player who was covering Harrison was Banks, so it was not the greatest of starts for the 2023 first-rounder.
Yet, Banks locked in for the rest of the game, especially at the end of the game. Banks was called for a questionable pass interference penalty in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, with the Cardinals being deep in the red zone and just a couple of yards out from potentially stealing a victory away from the Giants with a touchdown. The good thing was that the entire defense stepped up to knock away three of quarterback Jacoby Brissett's passing attempts. Yet, Banks called game on fourth and goal, as he picked off Brissett's pass and returned it for a touchdown to clinch the 36-24 victory.
Yes, while he gave up a touchdown to Harrison, his coverage numbers were tremendous. Banks allowed three receptions for 19 yards while being targeted eight times by Brissett, according to Pro Football Focus. Additionally, Banks recorded three pass breakups.
This was the kind of game that Banks needed to show that, no, he isn't a draft bust by the Giants. In fact, he still can be a part of the team's future as one of their starting cornerbacks.
Giants new coaching regime helped out Deonte Banks
Even though Banks was drafted in 2023, months after the Giants shocked the world by making the playoffs and pickiing up a Wild Card Round win over the Minnesota Vikings. The expectations was that Banks would slot in just fine in Wink Martindale's defense.
As a rookie, Banks recorded 64 total tackles (53 solo, 11 assisted), 11 pass breakups, and two interceptions. In coverage, Banks allowed receptions on 53-of-96 targets for 606 yards and four touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. That was Banks' only season with Martindale as his coordinator, as he left the organization as a result of his testy relationship with Daboll.
Unfortunately for Banks (and Giants fans, for that matter), Daboll brought in Shane Bowen as the new coordinator. Bowen had an underwhelming tenure with the Tennessee Titans, so the Giants bringing him in didn't exactly result in rounding ovations fro the fanbase. Sure enough, the fans' instincts were correct.
Bowen's defense were shoddy in his two years at the helm, with the team not being schemed properly, which resulted in numerous fourth quarter collapses for the Giants in games they, ideally, should have won. Banks didn't exactly thrive in Bowen's system. In 2024, Banks allowed receptions on 52-of-74 targets for 648 yards and six touchdowns in 15 starts. Last season, Banks was factored out as a starter and became a rotational option off the bench and took on kick returning responsibilities. In 16 games (six starts), Banks saw opposing quarterbacks target him 38 times, where he allowed 24 catches for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
The Bowen tenure mercifully ended, and now they have Wilson as the defensive coordinator. Wilson has already gotten the most out of all of the players, who have bought into his system. That includes Banks, who only logged two games this season due to injury. But in those two games, he allowed just four catches for 23 yards and a touchdown on seven targets.
There is still plenty of season to go, but if Banks keeps it up, he could increase his price tag during contract negotiations. For the Giants' sakes, his strong play may give them no choice but to pay the price to keep him around.
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