Pressure is building across the New York Giants. And with head coach Brian Daboll already sacrificed, what comes next will fall entirely on the shoulders of general manager Joe Schoen.
It's been a mixed bag for Schoen, to put it mildly. There are some strong areas of the roster, and quarterback Jaxson Dart looks like the real deal. At the same time, there are some glaring flaws and failed personnel moves that have held this team back considerably.
Schoen is reportedly getting a reprieve with the chance to pick another head coach. Fans are watching his every move closely, and any further failures will not be tolerated.
Giants have a massive Deonte Banks problem on their hands this offseason
One could point the finger squarely at the decision to take Evan Neal over Charles Cross as a grave error. But Schoen's first-round pick in 2023 hasn't exactly made the desired progress either. And if the same trend continues, it's time for the Giants to reach an unwanted realization.
Things looked enormously promising for cornerback Deonte Banks earlier in his career. His physical approach and fearless mindset went over exceptionally well at MetLife Stadium. There were times when he'd become overzealous to his detriment, so all eyes were on his development in a crucial Year 3 of his professional career.
It hasn't gone well. Banks' usage has diminished significantly, driven primarily by underperformance. The purpose and aggression have been replaced by indecisiveness and reduced confidence. The technique is regressing, and teams are actively targeting him as a weak link in the middle of the field. That is not what the player or the Giants envisaged, which makes it more difficult to trigger his fifth-year option next spring.
Banks can have no complaints if the Giants don't activate the clause in his first-round rookie contract. His 133.0 passer rating when targeted is abysmal. He's gone from a possible franchise cornerstone to a liability, and Schoen isn't in a position to keep riding the turbulence in the hope that things start trending up for the high-end prospect out of Maryland.
It's worth remembering that Banks hasn't turned 25 yet. He is only just entering his prime, so the Giants could keep him around in 2026 and hope for a better outcome. However, with a new coaching staff coming into the fold, they'll have their own ideas for taking the franchise forward.
Whether they include Banks or not remains to be seen. But at some point in this exercise, Schoen will have to admit defeat if improvements aren't made.