The New York Giants are keeping things mostly the same on offense, rolling into the new season with 10 returning starters. But on defense? Total makeover.
They’ve plugged two rookies into the defensive line: edge rusher Abdul Carter and defensive tackle Darius Alexander. In the secondary, GM Joe Schoen went hard in free agency, scooping up corner Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland to shake things up.
The goal? Add some speed, ball skills, and overall juice to a defense that was seriously lacking. Out of the four defensive starters who got the boot, one guy who *didn’t* get replaced—surprisingly—was cornerback Deonte Banks, even though he had a pretty rough 2024.
Banks, a first-round pick back in 2023, is still listed as a starter going into OTAs. But make no mistake: his spot is anything but secure. He’s coming off a shaky season where veteran receivers gave him trouble all year, especially in the red zone.
Still, he did show some progress. Banks had 12 pass breakups last season—one better than his rookie year—and he did it in fewer games. With Adebo now likely taking on the tougher coverage assignments and Dru Phillips emerging in the slot, Banks might finally get some relief and a chance to grow without being thrown to the wolves every Sunday.
This offseason is a huge one for him. If he balls out at OTAs, it could set him up for a much-needed bounce-back year. But if he flops? The Giants might start eyeing other options like Cor’Dale Flott or Tre Hawkins III for that outside corner spot.
Bottom line: Year 3 is make-or-break for Deonte Banks—and it all starts now.
Big Expectations, Bigger Pressure: Giants’ Top Rookie on the Hot Seat at OTAs
