Deonte Banks: Everything you need to know

The Giants have declined Banks' fifth-year option, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports. New York had high expectations for Banks when the team selected him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but the Maryland product has largely disappointed. Banks has managed to stay mostly healthy during his first three NFL campaigns, playing in 45 of a possible 51 regular-season games, but after starting every contest in which he participated from 2023-2024, he logged just six starts over 16 contests last year. Banks appears set to compete for playing time with second-round pick Colton Hood and free-agent acquisition Greg Newsome during the upcoming season.

Banks played in 16 games (six starts) during the 2025 campaign, tallying 31 tackles and five defensed passes. He also returned 19 kickoffs for 622 yards and a touchdown. After starting each of the first 29 regular-season games of his NFL career, Banks couldn't hold onto a starting role last season, as Paulson Adebo and Cor'Dale Flott (knee) emerged as the Giants' starting outside cornerbacks when healthy. That unsurprisingly resulted in Banks logging career-low marks in defensive snaps (457), tackles (31) and defensed passes (five). Banks did, however, get his first professional action as a kick returner, and the highlight of his campaign was a 95-yard kick-return TD in Week 17. Banks will be in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract in 2026, and given his reduction in defensive playing time last year, it seems unlikely New York will pick up his fifth-year option.

Banks (shoulder) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Raiders. Banks managed a shoulder injury this week and was labeled as limited all three days of practice. However, he's avoided an injury designation and will be able to take the field Sunday. Banks could draw a start at cornerback if Cor'Dale Flott (knee, questionable) is unable to play.