New York Giants' Deonte Banks making most of his 'clean slate'
· Yahoo Sports
One of the things New York Giants fans are learning about new head coach John Harbaugh is that he never gives up and gives his players every possible chance to succeed.
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Harabaugh, upon reviewing the roster, told reporters early on that everyone would be getting a fresh look under his tenure. A "clean slate," he called it.
Several players have already been rescued from the scrap heap, including offensive linemen Evan Neal and Joshua Ezeudu, and other high picks, such as wide receiver Jalin Hyatt and cornerback Deonte Banks, are getting second looks after playing their way into the doghouse under the previous coaching staff.
Banks is a former 2023 first-round pick who not only went off track in his performance but also had his desire to play questioned by teammates and coaches. The Giants chose not to exercise Banks' fifth-year option, meaning he's in the final year of his rookie contract in 2026. It's now or never for him.
The new coaching staff doesn't seem to care about Banks' past. All they see is a 25-year-old, able-bodied young man with all the tools to become a top NFL cornerback.
“He has the intangibles," Giants first-year defensive backs coach Addison Lynch told the New York Post. “You see it in his body. He’s big, he’s fast, he can tackle, he can jump, he can catch. So it’s my job to put him in the best positions to be able to bring those intangibles out all the time. Mama and daddy gave him a lot of skills, so my job is to make mama and daddy’s skill set shine on the field on Sundays."
New defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is also willing to give Banks his shot in a suddenly crowded cornerback room. Banks is no longer listed as a starter. He's behind Paulson Adebo, Greg Newsome III, and rookie Colton Hood on the depth chart.
“Yeah, I know Banks," Wilson said. “I remember evaluating him coming out. He’s a Maryland Terp, and I’m a Maryland Terp. I had just a little bit of background with him. He’s a talented player. He’s big. He can run. He brings an element of physicality, but he’s had an up-and-down career thus far."Harbaugh said earlier this spring that he knows that Banks had had issues and "hasn't played that great."
“But is he capable of playing a lot better? I think he is,’’ Harbaugh said.
Banks still has a ways to go to get back into the good graces of fans and some of his teammates. It's hard for them to erase the image of him shying away from tackles and blowing key coverage assignments, leading to big plays.
“We tried to show him that his consistency was his deal," Lynch said. “He just wasn’t consistent getting lined up fast, wasn’t consistent with his feet. He’s improved his consistency, so now his play is improved, now his confidence is up and he can just roll into the season."
Lynch believes Banks is putting all of his issues behind him. The coaching change and perhaps the uncertainty of what may lie beyond this year.
“I love how he’s handling it," Lynch said. “Right now, he’s being an absolute pro. He’s doing the extra work, he’s in his book, he’s doing everything we ask him. He’s making plays on the ball and he’s doing a really good job handling himself play in and play out. He’s made major improvements that when he’s tired, he relies on his technique and he’s getting more technical sound, so everything with him is trending in the right direction."
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants' Deonte Banks making most of his 'clean slate'