Much like New York Giants teammate Kayvon Thibodeaux, cornerback Deonte Banks is likely to come off the bench this year.
At least Thibodeaux, the No. 5 pick in 2022, gets to play this season on the fifth-year option. Banks isn’t so lucky, not after the Giants declined the option earlier this month. Not even a coaching change bodes well for Banks, the 2023 draft’s No. 24 selection.
Instead, if organized team activities are any indication, then John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen might be moving on from Banks sooner than expected.
John Harbaugh all but made Deonte Banks’ Giants future obvious
The Athletic’s Dan Duggan reported that Greg Newsome II and Paulson Adebo started at cornerback this week. Rookie Colton Hood did not participate, and another cornerback, Dru Phillips, was not in attendance.
Duggan added that he believes Hood, an All-SEC defensive back at Tennessee, will start in Week 1 against the Cowboys. Where that leaves Banks, who started a career-low six games last year, remains to be seen.
If Banks isn’t even garnering a mention when Hood and Phillips aren’t practicing, then it should be clear he doesn’t have much of a future under Harbaugh.
Thibodeaux has flashed enough over four seasons that his name shows up in articles and podcast segments speculating about potential trades.
Banks, though, has become entirely irrelevant both inside and outside the Giants’ building — and, in fairness, can you blame them?
Social media still regularly shares clips of Banks getting torched by opposing receivers. Analytics don't always tell the full story, but it's hard not to pay attention when Pro Football Focus gave Banks the third-worst grade of the 114 qualified cornerbacks.
“He hasn’t played that great,” Harbaugh told reporters in April. “He’d tell you that. But is he capable of playing a lot better? I think he is.”
Such improvements appear poised to come elsewhere, though the Giants haven’t publicly indicated that they intend to trade Banks this summer. Speaking candidly, even thinking the Giants could get a sixth-round pick for Banks feels unrealistic.
Banks will make $2.6 million in base salary, which might be too pricey for a team needing young cornerback depth. The only thing working in Banks' favor is that he's entering his age-25 season, and he could eventually appeal to teams as a buy-low, sell-high young player.
For now, Banks is stuck with the second team, a disappointing finish to an inconsistent tenure in New York.
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