Giants’ 23 year old player will be asked to assume role of No. 1 cornerback

When the New York Giants traded up in the 2023 NFL Draft to select cornerback Deonte Banks No. 24 overall, they did so envisioning a day when Banks would be asked to be their No. 1 cornerback.

That time is now. After what defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson called a “solid” rookie season, Banks is now the best and most established cornerback on a roster filled with young players at the position.

Will he be up to the challenge? Let’s discuss as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

Career to date

Banks started 15 games as a rookie. He intercepted two passes, had 11 passes defensed, did not allow a touchdown and made 64 tackles. His passer rating against, per Pro Football Reference, was an excellent 79.6. Pro Football Focus had Banks’ passer rating at 84.7, 24th out of 74 qualifying players. Banks gave up 53 completions in 96 targets, a 55.6% completion rate.

Somehow, though, PFF scored Banks with only a 48.6 coverage grade, 70th out of those 74 qualifiers.

“I think overall a solid rookie year for him,” said defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson. “He had a lot of pressure. A couple games we matched him up on their best guy. I think he did a solid job.”

2024 outlook

The Giants need Banks to make a leap in Year 2. Third-year man Cor’Dale Flott, still just 22, is the likely outside cornerback on the other side. Rookie Andru Phillips is penciled in as the slot cornerback.

The depth behind them is mostly young players.

“Obviously we would like to see him grow and to be that No. 1 corner, that true No. 1 corner,” Henderson said.

“I think there are some receivers in this league [that] against anybody you’re going to want to give a corner some help sometimes, you’re gonna have to. There are some players in this league that just warrant that.

“You hope that against those guys that he plays a game where you’re like, OK, that’s even, that’s an even matchup for the Giants. You hope he develops into that.

“He’s working his butt off to get there. I’m pushing him to get there. Hopefully he is that guy for us.”

Athletically, you can’t test much better than the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Banks did at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.