Deonte Banks Bio
Deonte Banks 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 Giants in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Banks has established himself as a starting cornerback in the NFL, contributing also as a special teams performer. He was born on March 3, 2001, in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Edgewood High School before developing into one of the top cornerback prospects in college football.
Early Life and Background
Deonte Banks was born on March 3, 2001, in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Edgewood High School in Edgewood, Maryland, where he began developing his skills as a football player. During his high school career, Banks also briefly attended Saint Frances Academy before transferring back to Edgewood High School for reasons that were not publicly disclosed.
Banks emerged as a highly regarded defensive back prospect during his time at Edgewood High School. His performance at the high school level positioned him for opportunities at the collegiate program at the University of Maryland, where he would continue his football development and eventually become a NFL draft prospect.
Path to Professional Football
Banks committed to play college football at the University of Maryland, joining the Maryland Terrapins program in 2019. As a freshman, he recorded 28 tackles, an interception, and 2 pass breakups, showing early promise as a defensive playmaker in the Big Ten Conference.
The 2020 season was shortened to five games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Banks recording 11 tackles and a pass breakup. His sophomore season in 2021 was derailed by a season-ending shoulder injury that occurred in the second game of the year. Banks worked to recover from the injury and returned for a strong final season in 2022, recording 26 tackles, an interception, 8 pass breakups, and a blocked extra point.
Following his 2022 campaign, Banks declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and participated in the NFL Combine. Pre-draft evaluations were highly favorable, with Pro Football Focus listing him as the third-best cornerback prospect and 18th overall on their big board. NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. both ranked him as the fourth-best cornerback in the draft class. Banks was projected to be selected in the first round of the draft based on his combination of size, athleticism, and ball skills.
Deonte Banks Career
New York Giants (2023-Present)
The New York Giants selected Deonte Banks in the first round with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Giants orchestrated a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, sending their 2023 first-round (25th overall), fifth-round (160th overall), and sixth-round (240th overall) selections to move up one spot to secure Banks at 24th overall. He became the fourth cornerback drafted in 2023 and the first of two cornerbacks selected by the Giants that year.
On May 18, 2023, Banks signed a four-year contract worth $13.59 million, including a signing bonus of $6.87 million, with the contract 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 Physically Unable to Perform list due to a 2022 injury.
Head coach Brian Daboll named Banks a starting cornerback to begin the regular season, pairing him with Adoree Jackson. He initially wore No. 36 and No. 37 during training camp since his college No. 3 was unavailable (worn by Sterling Shepard), ultimately choosing to wear No. 25 for his rookie season after it became available following Rodarius Williams being cut during camp.
Rookie Season (2023)
On September 10, 2023, Banks made his professional regular season debut and earned his first career start in the Giants’ home-opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He recorded one tackle and set a season-high with two pass deflections in the 0-40 loss. On October 22, 2023, Banks recorded seven combined tackles (five solo), made one pass deflection, and recorded his first career interception off a pass attempt by Sam Howell as the Giants defeated the Washington Commanders 14-7.
In Week 12, Banks made four combined tackles (three solo), one pass deflection, and recorded his second interception of the season on a pass by Mac Jones during a 10-7 victory against the New England Patriots. In Week 14, he set a new season-high with 12 combined tackles (nine solo) and broke up a pass as the Giants defeated the Green Bay Packers 24-22. On December 25, 2023, Banks recorded six solo tackles before exiting during the third quarter of a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles after injuring his shoulder. He was subsequently inactive for the final two games of the season.
Banks finished his rookie season with 64 combined tackles (53 solo), 11 passes defended, and 2 interceptions in 15 games with 15 starts. He received an overall grade of 51.4 from Pro Football Focus.
2024 Season
On February 6, 2024, the Giants announced the hiring of Shane Bowen as their new defensive coordinator after mutually parting ways with Don Martindale. On February 9, 2024, Banks posted a picture on Instagram wearing a Giants jersey with No. 3, signifying his decision to switch numbers after the number became available following Sterling Shepard’s departure in free agency. He wore No. 3 during his collegiate career at Maryland.
Banks entered training camp slated as the No. 1 starting cornerback. Head coach Brian Daboll named him a starting cornerback to begin the season, pairing him with Cordale Flott. In Week 5, Banks recorded six combined tackles (two solo) and set a new career-high with three pass deflections during a 29-20 victory at the Seattle Seahawks. On November 24, 2024, Banks set a season-high with six combined tackles (five solo) and made one pass deflection as the Giants lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He was inactive for three consecutive games (Weeks 13-15) after suffering a rib injury. Banks finished the 2024 season with 52 combined tackles (39 solo) and 12 pass deflections in 14 games with 14 starts. He received an overall grade of 50.9 from Pro Football Focus, ranking 182nd amongst 222 qualifying cornerbacks.
2025 Season
On April 2, 2025, the Giants announced changes to jersey numbers, with Banks changing his jersey number for a third consecutive season, going from No. 3 to No. 2 to accommodate newly acquired free agent quarterback Russell Wilson, who had worn No. 3 throughout his 13-year NFL career. Wilson released a statement on Instagram thanking Banks for agreeing to the change.
On December 28, 2025, Banks scored his first career touchdown on a 95-yard kickoff return against the Las Vegas Raiders, providing a highlight play during the season.
Deonte Banks Career Statistics
Through his first three NFL seasons with the New York Giants, Banks has established himself as a consistent starter at the cornerback position while also contributing on special teams as a kick returner.
NFL Statistics
Banks has appeared in 32 games with 31 starts across three seasons, recording 147 total tackles, 28 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions. He has forced 1 fumble and accumulated 622 return yards on kickoffs with 1 touchdown.
| Season | Team | Games | Tackles | Pass Deflections | Interceptions | Return Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | New York Giants | 15 | 64 | 11 | 2 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | New York Giants | 14 | 52 | 12 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | New York Giants | 3 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 622 | 1 |
Family
Limited information is publicly available regarding Deonte Banks’ family background and personal relationships. His personal life outside of football has remained largely private throughout his rise from high school standout to NFL player.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Banks as he adapted to his third different jersey number with the Giants, switching to No. 2 to accommodate Russell Wilson. The change demonstrated his willingness to accommodate team needs while maintaining his role as a starting cornerback in the Giants’ defensive scheme.
Banks continued to serve as a primary starting cornerback under defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, building on his experience from his first two seasons in the NFL. His 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders on December 28, 2025, represented his first career touchdown and provided a memorable highlight, showcasing his speed and ability to make plays in the return game.
Banks accumulated 31 tackles and 5 pass deflections through the first three games of the 2025 season before the data cutoff. His continued development as both a coverage defender and special teams contributor positions him as an important piece of the Giants’ secondary going forward.