It feels like a lifetime ago when Deonte Banks looked like he had the potential to be a cornerstone of the New York Giants' defense for years to come. After thriving in defensive coordinator Wink Martindale's scheme as a rookie, Banks took a massive step backward as soon as Brian Daboll fired Wink for Shane Bowen.
Bowen's scheme has seen the 24-year-old border on being unplayable in the secondary, so Big Blue has other plans for their 2023 first-round pick. Special teams coach Michael Ghobrial said that Banks' speed has impressed him on special teams to the point he could emerge as the team's primary kick returner.
Not only did the G-Men draft him in the first round three years ago, Joe Schoen managed to trade up to do so. For a player who was expected to be the Giants' CB1 of the future, being a full-time return man and special teamer is a dramatic and disheartening fall from grace that fans have to hate to see.
Giants could look to start utilizing Deonte Banks as a kick returner
Cor'Dale Flott has permanently taken his starting spot in the secondary, which isn't much of a surprise if you look at how Banks has been playing. According to Pro Football Focus, the former Maryland Terrapins' star has been among the worst cornerbacks across the entire NFL in 2025.
He is near the bottom of the NFL in every statistical category. His 44.8 PFF grade ranks 106th out of 108 qualified cornerbacks, his 40.5 run defense grade ranks 100th, and his 47.7 coverage grade ranks 102nd at the position. If you look at that, it's no wonder that his days in blue and white are numbered.
Those are not the numbers of a player who deserves quality defensive snaps in this league, so it's not shocking to learn that Schoen tried (and failed) to trade him before the deadline. At this point, it's become clear that once this offseason rolls around, there is a real chance the team cuts ties with him.
Even teams willing to bet on his potential in hopes of embarking on a rejuvenation project had no interest in trading a seventh-round pick for Banks -- and it's hard to blame them. The only value his sheer athleticism will provide the Giants is on special teams, so this decision is at least worth a shot.
The third-year cornerback has been just as big a disaster as Schoen's other big misses like Jalin Hyatt and Evan Neal, and his lack of effort doesn't help. Now it looks like Ghobrial's words are the nail in the coffin for what has been one of the biggest disappointments in recent franchise memory.