Deonte Banks Bio
Deonte Banks (born March 3, 2001) is an American professional football cornerback and kick returner for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, he has quickly developed into a full-time starting cornerback at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Deonte Banks was born on March 3, 2001, in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in the Baltimore area and attended Edgewood High School, where he first developed as a defensive back. He also briefly attended Saint Frances Academy during his high school years before transferring out.
Banks went on to play college football for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland, College Park. As a freshman in 2019, he recorded 28 tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups. The 2020 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Maryland playing only five games; Banks finished that year with 11 tackles and a pass breakup. In 2021, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in just the second game of the season.
Banks bounced back in 2022, finishing the year with 26 tackles, an interception, eight pass breakups, and a blocked extra point. Following the season, he declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and participated in the NFL Combine, where he impressed scouts with his size, speed, and athletic profile.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Edgewood High School, Banks was regarded as a promising defensive back prospect, but he was not yet a household name. His decision to attend the University of Maryland allowed him to stay close to home while developing against top-level competition in the Big Ten. His freshman production suggested significant upside, and he continued to log meaningful snaps for the Terrapins despite the challenges of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
His strong 2022 campaign, in which he totaled 26 tackles, an interception, eight pass breakups, and a blocked extra point, was the breakthrough that put him on the radar of NFL scouts. Major draft analysts took notice: Pro Football Focus listed him as the third-best cornerback prospect and 18th overall player on their big board, while NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. each ranked him as the fourth-best cornerback in the class. Dane Brugler of The Athletic also ranked him as the fifth-best cornerback available, cementing his status as a projected first-round pick.
Deonte Banks Career
Pre-Draft and Draft (2023)
The New York Giants selected Banks in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Giants orchestrated a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to move up one spot, sending their 2023 first-round (25th overall), fifth-round (160th overall), and sixth-round (240th overall) selections to Jacksonville. Banks was the fourth cornerback drafted and the first of two cornerbacks taken by the Giants in 2023, alongside sixth-round pick Tre Hawkins III.
On May 18, 2023, the New York Giants signed Banks to a four-year, $13.59 million contract that included a signing bonus of $6.87 million and was fully guaranteed upon signing. He entered training camp as the projected No. 2 starting cornerback under defensive coordinator Don Martindale, replacing Aaron Robinson, who remained on the PUP list due to a 2022 injury. Head coach Brian Daboll named him a starter to begin the regular season, pairing him with Adoree Jackson. After wearing Nos. 36 and 37 during camp, Banks officially chose No. 25 for his rookie season after Rodarius Williams was released.
New York Giants Era (2023–Present)
Banks made his professional regular-season debut on September 10, 2023, in the New York Giants’ home opener against the Dallas Cowboys, earning his first career start and recording one tackle and two pass deflections in a 0–40 loss. On October 22, 2023, he recorded seven combined tackles (five solo), one pass deflection, and his first career interception off a pass from Sam Howell to Jahan Dotson, helping the Giants defeat the Washington Commanders 14–7. In Week 12, he added his second interception of the season on a pass from Mac Jones to Demario Douglas during a 10–7 victory against the New England Patriots. He set a new season-high with 12 combined tackles (nine solo) against the Green Bay Packers in Week 14, but suffered a shoulder injury on December 25, 2023, against the Philadelphia Eagles, causing him to miss the final two games. He finished his rookie season with 64 combined tackles (53 solo), 11 passes defended, and two interceptions in 15 games and 15 starts, earning an overall grade of 51.4 from Pro Football Focus.
In 2024, the Giants hired Shane Bowen as their new defensive coordinator after mutually parting ways with Don Martindale. Banks switched to jersey No. 3 after Sterling Shepard departed in free agency, then entered training camp as the No. 1 starting cornerback. Head coach Brian Daboll paired him with Cordale Flott to begin the season. In Week 5, he set a new career-high with three pass deflections in a 29–20 victory at the Seattle Seahawks. On November 24, 2024, he recorded six combined tackles (five solo) and one pass deflection in a 7–30 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was inactive for three consecutive games (13–15) after suffering a rib injury, finishing the 2024 NFL season with 52 combined tackles (39 solo) and 12 pass deflections in 14 games and 14 starts. His Pro Football Focus grade of 50.9 ranked 182nd among 222 qualifying cornerbacks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Banks is known for his combination of size, length, and speed at the cornerback position. He excels in press-man coverage, using his physicality at the line of scrimmage to disrupt receivers’ routes. He also shows strong ball skills, with multiple interceptions and pass breakups across his first two seasons, and he has the versatility to contribute on special teams as a kick returner.
Notable Events and Milestones
Banks’ first career interception, against the Washington Commanders in October 2023, was a signature early moment that helped seal a Giants victory. His second interception the following month against the New England Patriots, and his career-high 12 tackles against the Green Bay Packers, further highlighted his growing impact. The 2024 season also brought a leadership step, as he was elevated to the No. 1 starting cornerback role and continued to log consistent defensive snaps.
Deonte Banks Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Deonte Banks was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and has kept his family life largely private. Public details about his parents, siblings, or other relatives have not been widely reported, and no verified personal-life information is available beyond his high school and college background. He signed a four-year, $13.59 million contract with the New York Giants that runs through 2027.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season brought a notable change for Deonte Banks, as the New York Giants announced on April 2, 2025, that he would switch jersey numbers for a third consecutive season. He moved from his college No. 3 to No. 2 in order to accommodate newly acquired free agent quarterback Russell Wilson, who had worn No. 3 throughout his 13-year career. Wilson publicly thanked Banks on Instagram for agreeing to the change, underscoring the camaraderie within the Giants’ locker room.
Heading into the 2025 season, Banks remains a key part of the Giants’ secondary under defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. With two full seasons of starting experience behind him, he is expected to continue as a starting cornerback, providing leadership in coverage and contributing on special teams as a kick returner. His combination of size, length, and man-coverage ability makes him a central piece of New York’s defensive plans for the year ahead.