Latest news with #DeonteBanks
USA Today
11-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
7 New York Giants with most to gain during joint practices with Jets
The New York Giants will face off against the New York Jets this Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in Week 2 of the 2025 preseason. But before that, the two teams will take turns hosting each other in joint practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. There's still a load of camp battles going on with Big Blue, and Saturday's 34-25 victory over the Bills in Buffalo just made some of the competitions a little tighter. Here are seven Giants with the most to gain in joint practices with the Jets this week. CB Deonte Banks Last year was a disaster for Deonte Banks, the Giants' 2023 first-round pick. He was inconsistent and lacked focus to the point where his desire to play was brought into question. In the first preseason game, he played the entire first half not only because there were injuries at cornerback but because the coaching staff wanted him to get extra reps. He is in a showdown with Cor'Dale Flott for the CB2 spot and needs to outplay Flott this summer. Flott did not play against Buffalo but should be back this week. Banks has to hone his game to stay afloat. OL Marcus Mbow The rookie was dominant against the Bills on both sides of the line. If he continues to shine, it's going to be difficult to keep him on the sidelines. There's been speculation that the team could consider moving right tackle Jermaine Elumonor to guard and inserting Marcus Mbow at tackle. We're a long way from there right now, but things could change. Right now, Mbow could end up playing left tackle if Andrew Thomas doesn't come off PUP. WR Jalin Hyatt Jalin Hyatt didn't play in Buffalo, and that's too bad for him. He needs live reps to be considered in the passing game this year. With wideouts abundant in camp, the onus is on Hyatt to make his case, not the other way around. QB Jaxson Dart Jaxson Dart looked like a seasoned veteran against Buffalo on Saturday. Cool and confident. No matter how well Russell Wilson plays, if Dart matches him blow-for-blow, the fans will be calling for him to play earlier than expected. TE Daniel Bellinger Although he's a solid player, Daniel Bellinger is on the bubble this summer. The Giants have talent and depth at the position, and he could end up being the odd man out. Theo Johnson is the starter, with Chris Manhertz the top blocking option. With the emergence of rookie Thomas Fidone II, things are getting tighter for Bellinger. WR Montrell Washington It will be hard to tell Montrell Washington to "grab your tablet, the coach wants to see you" at the end of the month. The free agent has done everything right this summer and could be a real find. He had 60 yards on three receptions versus the Bills on Saturday. He deserves another extended look this week against the Jets, both in practices and the game. RB Dante Miller Dante Miller was the Giants' official offensive player of the game last week with 102 total yards from scrimmage. If Cam Skattebo is out again, that could mean more work for Turbo, who can get first downs as a third-down back. He's another player who is playing his way onto the roster. Another good week, and there's no way the Giants don't keep him.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Evan Neal, Deonte Banks and Tyrone Tracy Jr. talk Giants training camp impressions
New York Giants lineman Evan Neal, defensive back Deonte Banks and running back Tyron Tracy Jr. talk the start of the team's training camp and how they feel as practice heats up.
New York Post
30-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Deonte Banks isn't answering big questions in pivotal Giants camp battle
Russell Wilson threw one of his trademark moon balls, a deep shot to Beaux Collins — an undrafted free agent who is a roster long shot — in the left corner of the end zone during 11-on-11s midway through Tuesday's sweltering Giants practice. Except this time, Wilson underthrew it. Deonte Banks, who was covering Collins, didn't realize, though. How could he? He never turned his head around to locate the ball, one of the baseline fundamentals for any cornerback when the ball is in the air. Banks subsequently plowed through Collins as he tried to make a contested catch and was flagged for an obvious pass interference. Banks even decided to celebrate what he thought was a pass breakup before realizing he had committed the penalty. Then after practice, Banks again failed to meet the moment. Speaking for the first time this training camp, what Banks — entering his third season with the Giants, who drafted him in the first round in 2023, and battling Cor'dale Flott to keep his starting job — didn't say was just as revealing as what he did say. There was not exactly a sense that he is playing with something to prove. How would he assess his Year 2 showing? 'I just feel like it's kind of like a sophomore slump, but I feel good,' Banks said. 'So I'm cool.' Does he feel a sense of urgency to live up to his first-round pick expectations? 'I'm just getting better every day, my guy,' he said. Deonte Banks (right) defends against tight end Greg Dulcich during Giants training camp practice on July 29, 2025. Corey Sipkin for New York Post What is he trying to improve? 'Just being a better player,' Banks quickly replied. Banks showed flashes as a rookie under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, but struggled through a disastrous season last year under Martindale's replacement, Shane Bowen. Martindale's system, which allowed Banks to mostly play press/man coverage and jam opposing receivers at the line of scrimmage, seemed to suit Banks more than Bowen's, which featured plenty of zone defense. Bowen is back, but Banks' position coach, Jerome Henderson, is not. Jeff Burris was hired as the team's new cornerbacks coach and Marquand Manuel as passing game coordinator/secondary coach. Deonte Banks (left) defends Deonte Banks (right) defends against tight end Greg Dulcich during Giants training camp practice on July 29, 2025. Corey Sipkin for New York Post Henderson publicly criticized Banks' lack of effort last year, which resulted in him getting benched during a Week 8 loss to the Steelers. That is the only thing Banks acknowledged as a point of emphasis. 'Just finishing plays, really,' Banks said. 'That's really it — just finishing plays.' Paulson Adebo, who signed with the Giants this offseason after spending the first four years of his career with the Saints, has helped him with that. 'He just teaches me a lot, such as we talk about finishing plays a lot,' Banks said. 'What Marshon [Lattimore] taught him, he kind of teaches me the same thing. 'Just getting better at finishing plays and being a better me.' After two seasons as a bona fide starter, Banks is embroiled in a competition with Flott for the second cornerback spot. Adebo is a shoo-in as the top cornerback and Dru Phillips excelled as a rookie last year at the nickelback spot. Go behind the scenes with Big Blue Sign up for Inside the Giants by Paul Schwartz, a weekly Sports+ exclusive. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Banks and Flott had largely split the reps 50/50 between the first and second units to start camp. On Tuesday, though, it was Flott who was primarily with the starters and Banks who was with the backups. 'We handle each player the way we need to handle them,' coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday. 'Tae's out there competing, playing faster. He's going to have to go out there and perform at a high level. Everybody is. Make sure these guys have to earn it to go out there and get play time and help us produce — show it on the practice field and show it in the preseason games and when your number is called in a game, know what to do, do it at a high level. Do it with speed, toughness, aggressiveness on the defensive side of the football.'I think as a coach, we're trying to teach him what to do, show him how to do it and really demand that they do it that way and it's ultimately the responsibility of the player to go out there and do that.' Banks certainly did not publicly express much change to his mindset. But what is more important is that he shows one on the field. Otherwise, the Giants secondary could have a significant hole.
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New York Giants' $54 million CB among biggest steals from 2021 NFL draft
Though the New York Giants weren't the team that selected cornerback Paulson Adebo, they certainly recognized his talent. Needing to make a splash at the No. 1 cornerback spot this offseason, the Giants signed Adebo to a three-year deal worth $54 million in free agency. That was after he spent the first four seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints, the team that selected him in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. When looking at the biggest steals from that draft class now that they're four years into their careers, Bleacher Report's Damian Parson included the Giants' new cornerback on the list. Adebo started slowly, allowing more than 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns in coverage from 2021 to 2022. However, the last two years were better for him. He allowed only two touchdowns but reeled in seven interceptions during that span. Before he was placed on IR after seven games this past season, Adebo was targeted a league-high 55 times, but he allowed the fewest target EPA (-23.6) among outside cornerbacks, according to NFL Pro. He allowed a passer rating of 62.4, which was far below the current average of 88-94. This offseason, the New York Giants signed Adebo to a three-year, $54 million contract in free agency. His ball skills and playmaking ability should fit in well with the Giants' secondary and young cornerback Deonte Banks. Other players that were featured on the list as steals from the draft class included Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, and Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard. Even though the Giants used a first-round pick on Deonte Banks during the 2023 draft in hopes he would turn into an elite, lockdown corner, he has yet to reach that potential entering his third season. There have been some physical and mental lapses throughout his young career. With that said, the addition of Adebo can be beneficial for the Giants in more ways than one. He can provide the Giants with the status of a No. 1 cornerback while also helping Banks navigate the world as a young player looking to capitalize on his opportunities. Either way, there's plenty of reason to be excited for Adebo's addition to the secondary after what he's shown in recent seasons.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants Coach Hints at Cornerback Competition
Giants Coach Hints at Cornerback Competition originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Giants spent the offseason giving the defense a facelift. In the opening days of free agency, they signed corner Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland to three-year deals, remodeling a secondary that couldn't generate turnovers in 2024. Advertisement In the NFL Draft, New York doubled down on defense, drafting edge rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 3 pick and defensive tackle Darius Alexander in the third round. In turn, general manager Joe Schoen's defense is nearly complete. His defensive line is among the league's elite and his secondary is capable of taking advantage of that prowess. The Giants' biggest question on defense now resides at that second boundary corner spot, where Deonte Banks will hope to make up ground in Year 3. However, his job isn't necessarily security, as head coach Brian Daboll hinted at a cornerback competition while speaking at minicamp. 'I would say that we'll find out who the starters are at the end of training camp,' Daboll told reporters on Wednesday. 'Guys are getting different reps against different people, not just in that spot, in different areas as well. And we'll give everybody an opportunity to earn their role.' Banks' main competition looks to be Cor'Dale Flott, who New York has asked to play both perimeter and slot corner in recent seasons. Neither played particularly well in 2024 – Banks struggled mightily at times – but both stand to benefit from the offseason additions. Advertisement Holland's coverage skills add another layer of security over the top, Adebo allows them to take on opposing teams' second option, and the pass rush should put them in positions to win. 'I'd say there's a number of spots open, I'm not going to get into specific stuff,' he added. 'We think a lot of Deonte, we think a lot of Flott. They both produced for us in a number of different ways and they both deserve an opportunity to compete.' That opportunity starts in late July when training gives the staff an opportunity to get an extended look at its roster battles. Banks' effort questions stained his season, and his struggles against top receivers were a significant hurdle. Flott offers a lower ceiling, but seemingly a higher floor, although Banks' draft capital likely provides a leg up in this competition. Daboll insisted the decision will be merit-based, Advertisement 'Again, there's open competition in a lot of spots and we'll give everybody an opportunity to earn the role,' he said. 'Whoever earns it will be the ones that play.' Related: Ducks Fly Together: Kayvon Praises Giants' Chemistry Related: 3 Questions Will Define Giants' Defense This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
