Deonte Banks, CB Maryland: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Banks was a three-star recruit from Edgewood High School in Edgewood, Md. in the class of 2019

Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks has largely flown under the mainstream draft media’s radar, but the redshirt junior has fringe second round potential. After his excellent 2022 season, the third round is the latest we’ll see Banks go in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Deonte Banks, CB Maryland: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior outside cornerback from Baltimore, Md.

Background: Banks was a three-star recruit from Edgewood High School in Edgewood, Md. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 859 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 885 for On3.com. Banks was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals. He was an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 79 grade out of 100. Banks also received offers from Buffalo and Kent State. He earned All-Harford County honors for football in high school and competed in track and field. MaxPreps credits Banks with 24 receptions for 534 yards on offense and 41 tackles with five interceptions on defense as a high school sophomore.

2021 Production: 2 games, 6 tackles

2020 Production: 5 games, 11 tackles, 1 pass defensed

2019 Production: 11 games, 28 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes defensed

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 11 games in 2021 with a season-ending shoulder injury

Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, good but not elite arm length, well-built with the mass to contribute as a run defender, play strength to take on and defeat wide receiver blocks, aggressive hands when shedding blocks, locates the ball quickly on run plays and works his way to it, missed tackles weren’t a concern in 2022, quick to read and close on short throws (outs, curls, etc.), patient when sitting in press coverage before getting in-phase, squeezes outside releases along the sideline, little trouble staying attached to receivers on vertical routes, excellent at attacking the ball at the catch point, fluid hips to swivel and adjust his positioning, works well with his teammates to maintain integrity in zone, sticky and remains attached at the top of comeback and stick routes, shows good patience in zone to diagnose and handle multiple receivers in his space

Cons: Lack of ball production/interceptions, eight penalties committed in 2022, not a burner, backpedal is a little higher and slower than ideal, doesn’t always get his head around to the football, could be more assertive and physical with punches in press coverage to deaden routes at the line, occasionally loses the feel for his man in zone coverage, allows some separation on routes across his face over the MOF, could show more urgency as a run defender, not twitchy, foot speed and suddenness are average at best, needs to finish more plays with interceptions, not a powerful tackler, doesn’t always square up and drive through ball carriers, will grab and grapple when beaten with speed, occasional false step when in press

Overview: Banks is unofficially listed at 6'2", 205 lbs. Maryland played the former three-star recruit to the boundary and field sides of plays, but he seemed most comfortable operating along the boundary. He’s received starting snaps since his freshman season in 2019. Banks has roughly 1,500 defensive snaps and 315 special teams snaps to his name. He’s a well-built corner with good but not elite arm length. Banks has the mass and play strength to contribute as a run defender. He challenges wide receiver blocks with aggressive hands and fights through them on the way to the ball carrier. Missed tackles weren’t a concern for Banks in 2022, but they could be in the future, considering he doesn’t always square up and drive through ball carriers. He is quick to read and close on short throws and is excellent at attacking the ball at the catch point. Banks is patient when sitting in press coverage before getting in-phase. He suffers from some false steps when lined up directly over the receiver, but his patient nature usually allows him to avoid serious missteps. The Maryland native has fluid hips to swivel and adjust his positioning. He squeezes outside releases along the sideline and has little to no trouble staying attached to receivers on vertical routes despite not possessing great speed. Banks remains attached to receivers at the top of comeback and stick routes. He coordinates well with his teammates in zone to pass off routes and displays the patient processing power to handle multiple receivers running through his space. Banks’ lack of elite speed occasionally shows up on tape. He drew eight flags in 2022 and will grab receivers when beaten. The redshirt junior’s backpedal is higher and slower than ideal. His foot speed and suddenness are average at best. Banks is a fluid athlete, but he’s not twitchy or highly explosive. The Maryland product only has two career interceptions and one season with significant ball production. He doesn’t always get his head around to the football and needs to turn more batted passes into interceptions. Banks could be more assertive and physical with his approach and punches in press coverage to stall receivers at the line of scrimmage. He will contribute against the run at the next level but could show more urgency as a run defender. Banks occasionally loses the feel for his man in zone coverage as he keeps his eyes on the quarterback. He doesn’t allow much separation in man coverage. When he does, it’s usually on routes that cross his face and travel over the middle of the field, where receivers can unleash their speed without fear of being trapped against the sideline.

Overall, Banks is a well-built, poised corner who allows minimal separation on vertical and comeback routes, but he lacks the speed and suddenness to contend for a first round selection. Banks has plenty of positive reps in man and zone coverage, suggesting he could succeed in multiple schemes. He’s a fringe top-50 selection.

Role & Scheme Fit: Boundary corner in a zone-heavy scheme with press opportunities

Round Projection: Mid Second to Early Third

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 12-16-22