Giants' Deonte Banks brimming with confidence after solid effort vs. Cowboys

It could’ve been easy for Deonte Banks to give up and be hard on himself after last season. He lost his job as a Giants starting cornerback. When he played, he still struggled to have a positive impact.

That’s why Sunday’s win over the Cowboys felt fulfilling. Banks returned as a starter and played well. No Cowboys receiver had more than 45 receiving yards, evidence that the praise Banks received in training camp carried over to the field for at least one game.

“I’m just being me. Trying to be consistent,” Banks told Newsday Wednesday. “Trying to be better every day and just have a good attitude.”

Banks seemed headed for an unglamorous start to his last season under contract. The Giants declined his fifth-year option and signed Greg Newsome this offseason. They also drafted another cornerback in Colton Hood in the second round.

All of it pointed to Banks being nudged further to the sidelines. It didn’t help that the former first-round pick wasn’t just demoted but flagged for seven penalties last season. Three were declined.

Still, Banks’ seven flags tied for the third-most on the Giants last season despite his making just six starts. Banks found a second life returning kicks by season’s end and had his first return touchdown against the Raiders in the team’s final road game.

Still, quarterbacks picked on him because he had trouble tracking the ball and gave up too many completions. He hasn’t recorded an interception since the two he had as a rookie in 2023.

So what changed to the point that he called Sunday “super fun” and he’s finding his joy again.

Enter new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. Wilson’s system played to Banks’ strength playing press coverage that allows defensive backs to be physical with receivers starting at the line of scrimmage.

Instead of Banks fighting to hang on, he made a surge to regain his starting job. It led to rave reviews in training camp that seemed like a surprise to those watching him struggle.

“I feel like it was a reset for me so I just kept going,” Banks said. “That’s what I really focused on.”

Wilson, in turn, praised Banks for being consistent and listening to what his coaches told him. He also said in August that Banks played with a sense of believing in himself.

That combination of confidence while applying sound advice can be hard to develop in veterans who have notably struggled with bad habits. But Wilson said that just as quarterbacks can develop over time, cornerbacks can do the same in the right situation.

“Sometimes it’s about timing. Sometimes it’s just the maturation process,” Wilson said this month. “Sometimes it’s about being in the right scheme for them as a player. So yeah, I think all players can do that. I think that, as long as they keep striving to be the best version of themself and they keep chasing it . . . they attack every day with a chip on the shoulder, you’ll end up finding success.”

The Giants hope so. Banks said that Wilson told him to be himself and he’s playing more freely as a result. On Instagram last month, Banks posted a picture on his story feed with a caption that said “[expletive] fun again.”

His teammates noticed it, too. Newsome told Newsday that he admires Banks as a physical, smart player who thrives in man-to-man coverage. Safety Jevon Holland praised Banks for keeping the right attitude despite last season’s issues.

“I love how he plays, his demeanor, how he treated his teammates,” Holland said Sunday. “I mean he earned that job for a reason and I think everybody in the facility will tell you the same thing.”

General manager Joe Schoen credited Wilson, defensive backs coach Addison Lynch and secondary coach Donald D’Alesio for investing in Banks. As a result, he’s out of the Giants’ doghouse and back as a starter.

“I’m proud of Tae. Corner’s not an easy position,” Schoen said this month. “Your confidence can go up and down. And he’s continued to battle and fight.”

Banks still has to keep proving he’s a different player. He and the Giants’ secondary will be tested Monday with the Rams’ passing attack led by All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua and quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL MVP.

He also left the field twice last Sunday due to cramps in his right leg. But the Giants’ first-year coaching staff believes in him and its up to Banks to keep showing he’s turned a corner.

It was difficult, Banks said, to go through losing his job. Now that he’s got it back, he wants to make sure he can keep it along with his renewed confidence from training camp.

“I’ve just been getting better every day,” Banks said. “That’s all. Trying to stay consistent. Just keep going.”

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.