PFF highlights Deonte Banks' strong start in preseason
A lot has been made about the performance of the Giants' 2023 draft class this summer.
From Jalin Hyatt's deep catches to Jordon Riley's run stuffing plays up front, the early returns have been positive on the team's seven-man draft class, including the Giants' first-round pick.
Deonte Banks, the No. 24 overall pick in this year's draft, looks to be well on his way to locking down one of the starting outside cornerback positions, thanks in part to a strong performance over the last month.
Banks has been on the field for 33 coverage snaps across the first two preseason games, according to Pro Football Focus, and has yet to allow a reception. This is the most coverage snaps without surrendering a catch among all rookie corners.
Across the first two preseason games against the Lions and Panthers, Banks has registered a passer rating allowed of just 39.6, according to the analytics site.
The play of Banks and fellow rookie cornerback Tre Hawkins III has been one of the biggest storylines surrounding the defense this summer. The two have seen a lot of action playing on the outside with Adoree' Jackson moving inside to the slot, and it's clear that the two rookies have impressed the veteran corner.
"I think that just the talent – athleticism that he has is crazy to be able to see and watch him play," Jackson said last week about Banks. "He has a lot of great tangibles, and I feel like both of them with their tangibles have the ability to do something great, but it's just up to them. You know, how they want to do it so we're just taking it a day at a time and I'm just happy to see them progress and get better each day. Coming in and wanting to learn asking questions and being respectable in a sense to where they obviously could come in thinking that you know it all because you make a bunch of plays but still trying to learn and still trying to get better, so I appreciate that a lot out of both of them."
CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso also highlighted Banks' strong play, awarding the rookie corner with an A grade for the second consecutive week.
"Banks was as advertised in his second-straight preseason game," Trapasso wrote. "Against the Panthers, he squeezed a sideline back-shoulder route perfectly and stuck like glue to Laviska Shenault on a quick stop route underneath on another incompletion."
View photos from the home preseason opener between the Giants and Panthers at MetLife Stadium.
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