Deonte Banks Complete NFL Draft Profile (Impressive Upside Makes Drafting Maryland CB on Day 1 a No-Brainer)

Maryland's Deonte Banks is one of the more sought-after cornerbacks ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. He might not be a top-10 pick, but Banks has more than enough talent to be a contributor on any defense as early as this fall.

Here's everything you need to know about Deonte Banks heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

Deonte Banks Draft Stock & Mock Draft Projections

Mock draft sources accurate as of 4/13: Walter Football, Sporting News, Draft Tek, Pro Football Network, ESPN, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay.

Projected Draft Round: Round 1 (5), Round 2 (1) Round 3 (1)
Projected Team: Vikings (2), Lions (2), Chiefs (1), Ravens (1), Bengals (1)

Deonte Banks Scouting Report

Although injuries plagued him in the past, Deonte Banks is coming off the best college football season of his career. The 22-year-old suited up in a career-high 12 games for Maryland, finishing with 38 total tackles, 8 broken-up passes and an interception. He also had a 71.4 quarterback rating when targeted.

One thing that scouts love about Banks is his physical abilities. He's six feet tall with a 42-inch jump, giving him the perfect tools to shut down NFL wide receivers. He's great at reading plays, too, meaning he consistently finds himself in the perfect position to disrupt passes.

Banks does have areas where he must improve, though. His balance and ball hawk skills have come into question. That's not to mention how he sometimes gets stuck on blocks and could afford to get better at downfield balls.

Deonte Banks NFL Draft Prediction

While it isn't unanimous, most signs point to Deonte Banks being a first-round selection. The areas where he struggles can be fixed while his upside is too high to pass on. He might go through an adjustment period as he transitions to the NFL, but the right coach can get the most out of his game.

The Baltimore Ravens are one team to watch when it comes to where Banks might go. From an on-field standpoint, they need him after surrendering the 10th-most passing yards in the NFL last season. They could desperately use a CB with Banks' upside, especially since Marcus Peters is still a free agent.

The selection also makes sense from an off-field standpoint. Joining the Ravens would be a homecoming for Banks, who was born in Baltimore and played his entire collegiate career at Maryland. There's no doubt that fans would love this pick not only because he improves an area of need, but also due to his local ties.

Prediction: Baltimore Ravens (Round 1, 22nd overall)

Check out more NFL Draft content from The Duel:

Deonte Banks NFL Combine Results

Deonte Banks Maryland Stats

Deonte Bankes Maryland Highlights

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.