The New York Giants defense has several intriguing pieces, and one player under the microscope heading into the new season is cornerback Deonte Banks.
A former first-round pick from the 2023 NFL draft, Banks will have a lot riding on the upcoming campaign. The Maryland product has had a tumultuous tenure with the Giants, and he's coming off a rough season in which he failed to record an interception.
Despite the turmoil, general manager Joe Schoen had some positive things to say about the polarizing defender when speaking with reporters.
"He's had a really good camp. And hopefully can continue to build on the camp that he's had. He had a really good day yesterday out there at practice. So, he continues to stack days, and he's working really hard.
And again, hopefully he can continue on that trend," Schoen said Wednesday.
With Paulson Adebo returning, the Giants also added former Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Greg Newsome II to the room. During the 2025 season, Banks appeared in 16 games (six starts) while recording five passes defensed, two tackles for loss and a 126.7 passer rating on 37 targets, according to Pro Football Reference.
Banks may have made some strides this offseason in terms of his mentality, but Schoen wants to see continued growth when the regular season arrives.
"Again, he had a good rookie year, some ups and downs in between. But yeah, he's got to go out and do it. But I like where he is from this camp. He's got to go out and do it on Sundays," Schoen said.
Banks is entering the final year of his rookie contract so regardless of whether he sticks with the team beyond this season, the Maryland product is fighting for his future as an impact player in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants GM Joe Schoen on Deonte Banks: 'He's got to go out and do it'
