NY Giants general manager Joe Schoen traded up to select Deonte Banks in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and that decision has paid off nicely for the front office. The 6-2 cornerback was one of the best rookie DBs in the league last season, recording 64 total tackles, 11 pass deflections, and two interceptions during his first year in East Rutherford.
While the best has yet to come for the 23-year-old defensive back, he still locked down some excellent wide receivers and did not allow much separation in pass coverage. Many Big Blue supporters believe he has what it takes to earn a Pro Bowl nod in his second NFL campaign, but Pro Football Focus' John Kosko doesn't think so highly of him. On PFF's recent top 32 cornerback rankings, Banks was nowhere to be found. How could this be?
Deonte Banks not in the Top 32? https://t.co/AyPp3CAifr
— GMEN HQ (@GMENHQ) June 5, 2024
Giants CB Deonte Banks will prove a lot of people wrong this season
Everyone knows that no first-year DB is perfect. Still, we'd like to think that Banks was awfully good considering the circumstances he was under. As a rookie, he was responsible for leading a lackluster Giants cornerbacks room, while guarding the opposing team's best wideout. He only got better as the season progressed, which was great to see for head man Brian Daboll and his staff.
Not only did Banks miss the list, but he was even snubbed from the honorable mentions. Former Giants cornerback James Bradberry and several others received recognition before the highly-touted Maryland product. It just doesn't make a ton of sense here.
We're not sure if Banks slipped the writer's mind while he was writing this article, but most Giant fans would agree that he absolutely deserves to be there. Regardless, he should be able to make his way onto those rankings with another strong showing in 2024, as big things are on the way for Banks.
This season, he's the CB1 for the Giants and he's going to look to flourish working with new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Banks may just be in his second year, but with his outstanding abilities and unreal confidence, he carries himself like a veteran. Giants Nation is fired up to see what he can do this fall and winter.