For anyone thinking the New York Giants would hand out roster spots to anyone based solely on their draft position, think again. That’s not how this team is built anymore. Nope.
The G-Men are coming off arguably the worst season in franchise history and need all the talent they can possibly find. It doesn’t matter if it comes from a first-, second-, or seventh-round pick — all that matters is that they’re moving the team in the right direction. A lot of that is easier said than done. So what happens when a former first-round pick struggles to make anything of himself through two seasons? If you ask Big Blue’s assistant general manager, Brandon Brown, he’d say it’s open season.
When speaking to the media after Tuesday’s practice, Brown all but confirmed Deonte Banks (24th pick in the 2023 draft) isn’t doing enough to earn the starting cornerback spot opposite Paulson Adebo, saying: "You have to practice the way you play. It doesn't matter where you were drafted. The best production is going to lead who plays, and Dabs has been very clear about that, and we wholeheartedly support that."
Deonte Banks' draft pedigree does absolutely nothing to help him in roster battle with Cor'Dale Flott
It’s not every day you hear a front office executive put his pride aside and essentially say that even though they spent premium draft capital on a guy, they’re not going to force that player down their head coach’s throat. Pride won’t get in the way of the coaching staff making the best decision for the team, and that’s what just might get this team out of the basement.
The 24-year-old corner has been in a camp battle with Cor’Dale Flott, who’s no first-round pick, but it’s not like he’s just some throwaway either. He’s entering the final year of his contract after being selected 81st overall in the 2022 draft, with a lot to prove — mainly that he’s a starting-caliber CB in this league.
The former LSU defensive back had an impressive preseason showing against the Jets, where his sticky coverage earned him an 83.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. Banks was battling an undisclosed injury, keeping him out of the contest.
The former first-round pick had a rough follow-up season after a relatively strong rookie campaign. Inconsistency, lack of discipline, and effort concerns provided more headlines than stellar play, which is why there’s even a competition in the first place. His struggles have continued in camp, with his refusal to turn his head around to make a play on the ball.
Brown didn’t come out and say Flott has the starting job outright, but reading between the lines, it’s easy to see what he’s saying: Banks won’t get the starting nod just because he was a former high draft pick. He needs to prove he can earn the role through preparation and practice. And if he doesn’t, someone else will.
It doesn’t matter where you were drafted if you can’t play. And right now, Banks is losing ground. So much for being quiet, huh?