Pure chaos is the best way to describe the opening round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Two running backs went in the Top 12 picks, Will Levis fell out of the first round and more. It was madness. When all was said and done, the NY Giants were able to get their man, but it didn't come without general manager Joe Schoen making a trade.
With the top wide receivers off the board in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, Quentin Johnston and Jordan Addison, the Giants went and traded up one slot from No. 25 to No. 24 to ensure that no one else could jump them to get Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks. Plenty of people called out Schoen for giving up draft capital to only move up one spot, but it was the right call by the young GM.
Got ourselves a playmaker 🙌
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 28, 2023
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Multiple other teams were trying to trade up with the Jaguars for the No. 24 pick
Shortly after the Banks deal was announced, it was indeed reported that multiple teams were trying to move up to No. 24. With teams behind NY in need of secondary help, including the Cowboys and Bills, Schoen had his eyes on Banks and wasn't going to let anyone else try and snatch him up.
Keep in mind that Jacksonville also traded the No. 25 overall pick to the Bills, with Buffalo ultimately going with Dalton Kincaid. This just goes to show that there indeed was plenty of attention for that No. 24 spot, but Schoen and Co. were able to win the small lottery there. After the draft, Schoen said that things were 'depleted' in terms of guys on their first-round board being available. This happened after all the top WRs were picked up by other squads. So, he went all-in on Banks and it was the right choice.
As soon as the Banks move was official, the Giants war room was very happy with the pick and if you need any evidence of that there is a video of Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale shaking hands with everyone in the room and bear hugging Schoen. Martindale and Jerome Henderson, the defensive backs coach, are getting a physical corner in Banks. In our eyes, he is the perfect scheme fit for the Giants. He is a versatile player, but excels in press man coverage.
Banks checks in at 6-0, 197 pounds and he ran a mind-blowing 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He also posted a 42-inch vertical. Here is an even more eye-popping stat: per PFF, Banks has only given up a 50+-yard game once in his career. The Giants are happy to get their corner and we can't wait to see him starting across from Adoree' Jackson, with pieces like Cor'Dale Flott and Xavier McKinney in the secondary along with them.
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