Sometimes one word is just that — one word.
Sometimes the way that one word is uttered makes all the difference.
Addison Lynch, the first-year Giants defensive backs coach, responded with only one word when asked if, in his limited time working with Deonte Banks, it was easy to see why Banks was a former first-round draft pick. Lynch turned one word into a four-syllable declaration.
“Ab … so … lute … ly,’’ Lynch said.
That word can also be used to answer this question: Has Deonte Banks been a terrible first-round pick by the Giants?
After a promising 2023 rookie season, Banks dropped into the realm of bust status and it certainly would have been understandable if new head coach John Harbaugh preferred that his first Giants roster did not include a failed draft pick who at times showed a glaring lack of hustle as he played his way down the depth chart. Harbaugh, though, is all in on at least giving Banks a chance to make the team and prove that his career can be salvaged by tapping into his athletic pedigree.
“He has the intangibles,’’ Lynch told The Post. “You see it in his body. He’s big, he’s fast, he can tackle, he can jump, he can catch. So it’s my job to put him in the best positions to be able to bring those intangibles out all the time. Mama and daddy gave him a lot of skills so my job is to make mama and daddy’s skill set shine on the field on Sundays.’’
Lynch is one of the key newcomers on Harbaugh’s coaching staff tasked with extracting whatever value Banks can add to the 2026 Giants. Lynch is Banks’ direct position coach. Donald D’Alesio is the passing game coordinator and secondary coach.
Dennard Wilson is the defensive coordinator. All three are new to the Giants and arrived knowing Banks only as a college prospect. This is part of the clean-slate approach Harbaugh insisted he and his staff will implement, even though Harbaugh acknowledged Banks “hasn’t played that great’’ in his time with the Giants. ing
“But is he capable of playing a lot better? I think he is,’’ Harbaugh said.
New eyes are now on him.
“Yeah, I know Banks,’’ Wilson said. “I remember evaluating him coming out. He’s a Maryland Terp and I’m a Maryland Terp. I had just a little bit of background with him. He’s a talented player. He’s big. He can run. He brings an element of physicality, but he’s had an up-and-down career thus far.’’
Wilson said D’Alesio and Lynch are “two great DB coaches’’ who will do “an excellent job in teaching DB play, footwork, technique, eyes.’’
Alas, these coaches are not miracle workers and Banks will be the one most responsible for changing his career trajectory. The Giants did not exactly clear a path to the field for him. They signed former Browns first round pick Greg Newsome II to a one-year, $8 million contract and in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft selected Colton Hood with the 37th overall pick. Paulson Adebo, the 2025 big-ticket free agent signing, returns after a so-so first season with the Giants. Dru Phillips is back as a slot corner. In the spring, Adebo and Newsome lined up as the starters on the perimeter.
A defense cannot have too many cornerbacks but Banks is going to have to impress the new regime to claim a spot. He counts $4.3 million on the salary cap and cutting him would create that much in dead money. Banks last season was eventually relegated to kick returner duties. He will not make the team in that capacity this time around.
“We tried to show him that his consistency was his deal,’’ Lynch said. “He just wasn’t consistent getting lined up fast, wasn’t consistent with his feet. He’s improved his consistency so now his play is improved, now his confidence is up and he can just roll into the season.’’
In the organized team activity practices and mandatory minicamp, Banks, 25, showed some of the urgency that was lacking in previous years. That created momentum for him leading into training camp in late July.
Banks was at his best as a rookie when used as a press corner in Wink Martindale’s defense and it is believed Wilson will use Banks in a similar way.
“I love how he’s handling it,’’ Lynch said. “Right now he’s being an absolute pro. He’s doing the extra work, he’s in his book, he’s doing everything we ask him. He’s making plays on the ball and he’s doing a really good job handling himself play in and play out. He’s made major improvements that when he’s tired he relies on his technique and he’s getting more technical sound so everything with him is trending in the right direction.’’
It would be “ab … so … lute … ly’’ an upset if trending in the right direction leads to a roster spot and a role for Banks. He is in the final year of his rookie contract and the desirable size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds), speed and strength that allowed him to last this long will have to be harnessed and unleashed to keep him around much longer.