The Giants moved up one pick with the Jaguars to get Banks, and if you understand how defensive coordinator Wink Martindale likes to deploy his players, it makes all the sense in the world. You won’t play too many reps for Martindale if you’re not comfortable with aggressive press coverage, and Banks is absolutely the best press-man cornerback in this class. He’s a bit more undefined in off-coverage, but he has the traits to develop that over time.
Height: 6′ 0″ (61st) Weight: 197 (68th)
40-Yard Dash: 4.35 (93rd)
10-Yard Split: 1.49 (89th)
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 42″ (92nd)
Broad Jump: 136″ (98th)
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Wingspan: N/A
Arm Length: 31⅜” (47th)
Hand Size: 9⅜” (68th)
Bio: An All-County selection at Edgewood High School in Baltimore, Banks stayed close to home for his college tenure, choosing the Terrapins and making an impact right away with multiple snaps, and an interception in his final 2019 game against Michigan State.
Over four seasons, Banks had no sacks, one pressure,70 tackles, 16 stops, and he allowed 50 catches on 102 targets for 557 yards, 138 yards after the catch, six touchdowns, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 77.1. Banks played 1,321 snaps at outside cornerback, 71 in the box, 63 in the slot, 28 along the defensive line, and six at free safety.
Stat to Know: Banks had the highest rate of press coverage among cornerbacks in the 2023 class at 45%. Targeting Banks in press coverage was not a great idea — he allowed nine catches on 23 press targets for 46 yards, and only seven of those targets were deemed successes.
Strengths: Banks’ reps in press coverage are consistently hilarious, because it’s just bust after bust after bust for opposing offenses with very little relief. If he’s on you from the first step, his sense of technique and “matchability” to the receiver create a suffocating environment for receivers.
Banks will also stick and stay through the entire route, and he has the temerity to create pass breakups even when the play is extended and the receiver in question isn’t his original assignment. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. found that out here.
And while he wasn’t asked to stick his nose in a lot in run support, Banks has no aversion to it.
Weaknesses: So, how is Banks in off-coverage? I wouldn’t say it’s a problem for him, but he’s naturally inclined to give up more ground to receivers when he isn’t pressing, and though his recovery rate makes him a pest when he’s not pressing, he’s a different cornerback on plays like this.
Conclusion: Teams in need of a smart, aggressive, consistent cornerback to go to the head of the room in a hurry would do well to look Banks’ way. The off-coverage issues aren’t problematic to the point where they’re going to prevent him from NFL success; they just stand in stark contrast to his press skills. Put him on a team whose defensive coaches want their cornerbacks to breathe all over receivers before the snap, and reap the rewards.
NFL Comparison: Jamel Dean. The Buccaneers took Dean in the third round of the 2019 draft out of Auburn, and were rewarded with a top-notch cornerback with a specific knack for pressing and matching receivers all over the field. Banks has a lot of attributes that make up his game, but any team involved in a lot of aggressive press coverage should find him especially intriguing.