Deonte Banks entered training camp with a lot to prove. After a promising rookie season in 2023, he regressed significantly in Year 2. He had a laundry list of struggles to work through: missed tackles, blown coverages, and effort concerns among them.
Related: Alarming camp video reignites concern over Deonte Banks' effort (again)
Things were supposed to be different this time around. The 24-year-old has been in a training camp battle with fourth-year corner Cor'Dale Flott for the starting spot opposite free-agent addition Paulson Adebo. And if Banks thought it was going to be easy, he's got another thing coming.
For some reason, the third-year defensive back just won't turn his head around. He refuses to look back to make a play on the football. It's something that's plagued him for years, and at some point, he's going to get the 'old dog, new tricks' treatment. On Tuesday, the New York Giants held a joint practice with the Jets, and Banks' struggles were on full display, potentially costing him the starting spot.
Deonte Banks’ rough day vs Jets fuels Giants cornerback concerns
According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, Banks had a rough day lining up across from the Jets’ $130 million man, Garrett Wilson. Justin Fields completed three straight throws to Wilson with Banks in coverage, not exactly the best look for a corner fighting for a starting job. It'll be his responsibility to cover guys like Wilson weekly... so, yeah.
Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano later reported the former 24th overall pick left practice early and headed to the locker room. Another not-so-great development.
Banks’ struggles and whatever took him off the field couldn’t come at a worse time. He can’t afford to lose any more ground to Flott than he already has. His joint practice performance was an unfortunate continuation of his first preseason game against the Bills, where the same issues showed up on film.
He might have only surrendered one pass for 12 yards, but once again, he never got his head turned to make the play. It’s the same thing over and over again. This is a problem the Giants can’t afford to let linger. There’s a reason why Brian Daboll kept a former first-round pick on the field for the entire first half of the first preseason game.
His missed tackling was also on display during Saturday’s contest — something Banks even admitted to afterward:
"I missed a tackle out there — the running back bounced out to the right and I kept sliding down," Banks told the New York Post. "But we haven't tackled in a minute, so it's a little rusty. But I did make a good tackle."
He shouldn't be rusty. He should be ready to go whenever his number's called.
Overall, it’s just a terrible look for Banks. Three years in, and we’re still talking about the same issues not being fixed. One would think he’d be doing everything in his power to win the starting job, but that hasn’t been the case.
The most overlooked part of this whole battle is that Flott didn’t even suit up against the Bills. That means Banks might actually lose the starting job by playing his way out of it. It’s a strange turn of events, and general manager Joe Schoen might need to start looking for outside help. Neither corner is exactly making a convincing case to start.
Banks is running out of excuses, opportunities, and time. He'll need to turn his fortunes around fast if he wants any shot at being the starter in 2025.