The New York Giants anticipate a significant improvement from last year’s first-round pick, cornerback Deonte Banks, as he steps into a leading role as the team’s primary cornerback for the 2024 season. Head coach Brian Daboll is confident in Banks’s ability to meet these heightened expectations.
Giants HC Brian Daboll Anticipates a Breakout Second Season for Deonte Banks
During OTAs, Daboll praised Banks and set high expectations for his second season in the NFL:
“The jump from the first to the second year is always substantial,” Daboll commented on Giants.com regarding Banks. “He’s had a year to understand our system and learn new defensive strategies. He has the right mindset, working hard to maximize his potential.”
As a former first-round selection, Banks has the talent to evolve into a top-tier starter. Although his rookie season had its ups and downs, several factors point to a potential breakout in 2024.
Banks Primed for a Breakout in a New Defensive Scheme
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72763804/1715808893.0.jpg)
Banks is set to lead New York’s secondary as the primary cornerback this season, with third-year cornerback Cor’Dale Flott likely lining up opposite him, though this will be finalized during training camp.
In his rookie year, Banks recorded 64 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, 11 pass defenses, and two interceptions. However, he also allowed 606 yards and four touchdowns with a 55.2% completion rate.
Banks played in a demanding defensive scheme under former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, which emphasized heavy man coverage, leaving little room for error. The 2024 season will bring a change as new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen introduces a more conservative, zone-coverage-heavy scheme, better suited to Banks’s strengths.
This new scheme and Banks’s gained experience are expected to significantly aid his development, potentially propelling him to stardom in 2024.