Giants Aren't Giving Up On Deonte Banks

The team’s first-round pick in 2023, Banks was inconsistent as a rookie and at times despondent in Year 2.

That starts with poor production and a knack for giving up big plays. Whether it’s Justin Jefferson, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, or Terry McLaurin, Banks found himself on the wrong side of an end zone target. Technicians have found ways to expose him far too frequently. More importantly, he’s now had two glaring lapses in effort, resulting in benchings, lectures, and a hint of skepticism from the fan base.

Schoen acknowledged Banks’ shortcomings on Tuesday, but remained optimistic on the outlook of a potential building block.

“Tae's a young player that we did invest a high draft pick in and a first-round pick as a corner,” Schoen said. “Played well a year ago. Changed the scheme. And again, we're the youngest defense in the league. It's just, it's not just Tae that would like to have some plays back. There's other people as well, but we're not giving up on Tae.

“He's got the physical traits. He's shown the ability to match the top receivers on other teams. And corner's a tough position to play. You're moving backwards and you're going against some of the greatest athletes in the world that are moving forward. And there's balls that are going to be caught on you. And he's been in really good position on some of them.”

His optimism isn’t necessarily unfounded. Banks has been through the ringer of elite receivers on the schedule, regularly traveling against some of the game’s best pass catchers. His best games of the year came against quality receivers who win with physicality – DK Metcalf and Tee Higgins – and he flashed enough to earn optimism about his development.

For now, though, he remains overmatched. Perhaps he’s better suited as a second boundary corner whose tools win against less-savvy targets. Maybe the development is coming, and Schoen’s third first-round selection rises above the prior two and becomes a star.

But that’s a tougher argument to make when effort seems optional – and connected to the team’s struggles. New York is staring down the barrel of a dreadful second half of the season. If Banks’ effort dissipates with the autumn leaves, it’d be hard not to view it as yet another organizational failure.

“So, we're not going to give up on Tae. He works hard. He wants it. And I still believe he's got a bright future.”