When Joe Schoen and the New York Giants traded up with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2023 Draft to select standout cornerback Deonte Banks at 24, the thought was he'd revitalize their struggling secondary.
At the time, the group was held together by a ragtag group of guys, led by Nick McCloud, Adoree' Jackson, Darnay Holmes, and Fabian Moreau. A package of the 25th pick, 160th pick, and 240th pick heading to Northeast Florida to move up one spot wasn't steep, but it makes you wonder if it was worth moving up one slot with a team that ended up trading back again to select an offensive tackle.
Three years later, and it's a massive swing and miss from Schoen. Banks officially lost his starting spot this past season to Cor'Dale Flott, after Paulson Adebo signed for $54 million last offseason. The team moved him to the return unit, where he found some success, but it's tough to justify keeping a first-round pick on the roster for special teams duty. That's what specialists are for.
New York's 46-year-old general manager has a near-impossible time acknowledging his mistakes and correcting them. His ego gets in the way of business decisions, but perhaps instead of cutting ties with Banks entirely this offseason, he could salvage some of his self-esteem and trade him for a draft pick or another player who's a better fit in East Rutherford.
It's time for Joe Schoen to move on from Deonte Banks
If you've watched this team play football, Banks' lack of effort, head-scratching angles, and not being able to turn his head around has likely made you want to throw the clicker through the television -- I'm not just projecting, right?
Related: Giants players who definitely won't be back with New York in 2026
Fortunately, Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker views the fourth-year pro as a potential trade candidate, which could be a key addition by subtraction offseason move:
"When New York picked Banks in the 2023 first round, pundits expected that they had landed a lockdown cornerback; instead, he’s been the inverse. Among cornerbacks to play 2,000 or more snaps over the last three seasons, Banks owns the worst overall PFF grade (43.8) with the third-highest passer rating when targeted (110.9).
Schoen invested $54 million in Paulson Adebo last offseason, but the Giants concluded this past year 26th in overall grade at corner. Cutting ties with the 24-year-old Banks in the hopes of adding a better player feels shrewd."
Unfortunately for Big Blue, pretty much every other team in the league has access to tape and a PFF subscription, meaning Banks' flaws are well-documented at this point, so it'll be a sell -- a rather hard one of that -- on upside and scheme fit.
If Schoen can convince a team he just hasn't been utilized properly (return game not included... maybe?), then perhaps there's a market for the 24-year-old. Every team needs a corner, and it shouldn't be too hard for someone else to get tricked into believing the former Maryland star can turn things around.
It's amazing what youth, an ideal build, an athletic profile, and a first-round pedigree can do for you during negotiations. Giants fans can only wait for the Adam Schefter post reporting the news.