The pick is in as former Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks begins his NFL career.
Deonte Banks has been selected 24th overall by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He becomes the highest-drafted defensive back from Maryland since Darnell Savage was selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2019 draft.
Deonte Banks was the fourth cornerback drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft after Devon Witherspoon (Lions), Emmanuel Forbes (Commanders) and Christian Gonzalez (Patriots).
A former three-star recruit, Banks committed to the Terps in June of 2018 under the previous regime before signing during early signing period as Mike Locksley reworked his 2019 recruiting haul. During his high school career, Banks started games in all four years at Edgewood and committed as an under-the-radar signee but drew increased praise with each passing workout and updated game film.
Banks hit the ground running in his first year at Maryland, drawing eight starts in eleven games as he recorded his first career interception in the season-ending loss at Michigan State. Banks started in three of Maryland’s five games during the COVID-shortened season as he started to draw NFL buzz, but was put on hold after Banks missed the final ten games of the 2021 season with an injury.
The Maryland native returned in 2022 where he led a Maryland secondary en route to an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. Banks played in nine games as a freshman and had an interception in the final game of the season. Banks started 12 games last season and finished with a career-high 38 tackles and eight passes defended, along with the game-winning interception against Indiana.
After the season, Banks showed off at the combine, running a 4.35 forty and having the best vertical among all cornerbacks. He also had the second-best broad jump in 2022 and the third-best of all time at the position, making him a combine sensation and solidifying his status as an eventual first-round pick. Banks finished second to Florida QB Anthony Richardson with the highest athleticism score among any participant at the combine.
After grading his combine performance an ‘A,’ Banks drew high praise among the draft analysts.
“My goodness, what a week for Deonte Banks. The Maryland product measured in at 6-foot-5 and 197 pounds. He proceeded to put on an athletic show with a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, a 42-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-4 broad jump. All of those numbers placed in the 95th percentile or above for the cornerback position, proving he has the size and the speed to potentially be a top cover cornerback in the NFL,” PFF wrote.
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