Giants Give Deonte Banks a 'Clean Slate' at Critical Career Juncture

The offseason has played out favorably for the cornerback, who was drafted by the Giants after nearly being selected by the Ravens.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:39am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, forest green, and burnt orange, conveying the fractured nature of Banks' NFL career thus far.The Giants' selection of Deonte Banks represents a chance for the talented but inconsistent cornerback to revive his NFL career under a new coaching staff.Baltimore Today

Deonte Banks, a cornerback out of the University of Maryland, has landed with the New York Giants after a trade up from the 26th to the 25th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. This comes after the Baltimore Ravens, where Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson previously worked, were considering drafting Banks. The Giants are now giving Banks a 'clean slate' as he looks to revive his NFL career after two up-and-down seasons.

Why it matters

Banks was a promising prospect coming out of college, but his NFL career has stalled over the past two seasons. The Giants' decision to trade up and select him, as well as the involvement of Dennard Wilson who scouted him previously, suggests the team sees significant potential in Banks and is willing to give him an opportunity to prove himself at a critical juncture in his career.

The details

The Giants traded up from the 26th to the 25th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to select Deonte Banks, a cornerback out of the University of Maryland. This came after the Baltimore Ravens, where Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson previously worked, were considering drafting Banks at the 23rd pick. Wilson, who scouted Banks during his time with the Ravens, now has the chance to work with the talented but inconsistent cornerback in New York.

  • Deonte Banks was drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The players

Deonte Banks

A cornerback out of the University of Maryland who was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft after nearly being selected by the Baltimore Ravens.

Dennard Wilson

The defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, who previously worked as the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens and scouted Deonte Banks during that time.

John Harbaugh

The head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who now has the opportunity to coach both Deonte Banks and Zay Flowers, two players the Ravens were considering in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Dennard Wilson, Giants Defensive Coordinator

What’s next

The Giants will look to Dennard Wilson, who has prior experience scouting and working with Deonte Banks, to help the cornerback reach his full potential and revive his NFL career in New York.

The takeaway

Deonte Banks has been given a 'clean slate' with the Giants, who traded up to select him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The involvement of Dennard Wilson, who previously scouted Banks while with the Ravens, suggests the Giants see significant upside in the cornerback and are willing to invest in his development after his career has stalled over the past two seasons.