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Deonte Banks Currently Tops Among Teammates in Key Stat

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, September 26th 2025 at 19:14 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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Deonte Banks Leads the Giants in Key Defensive Metric – A New York Giant Stays on the Radar

The Giants’ defensive backfield is a mix of veteran depth and rookie potential, but the most surprising story on the run‑down this week is that rookie safety Deonte Banks is the only player on the entire roster who currently tops the Giants’ teammates in a key defensive stat. According to the latest NFL‑wide play‑by‑play data, Banks has accumulated 65 total tackles for the season, the highest on the Giants’ roster, and sits comfortably ahead of the team’s leading linebacker and the other defensive backs.

The stat that’s keeping Banks in the spotlight is total tackles, a yard‑stick for a player’s involvement in stopping the run and covering short‑range passes. It may not be the most glamorous metric, but it is a reliable indicator of how much a player is on the field and how effective he is at stopping opponents. For a rookie safety in his first full season, it’s a sign that he’s both earning trust from the coaching staff and making a tangible impact on the field.

Banks’ Numbers in Context

• Total Tackles (65) – Banks leads the Giants by a comfortable margin, outpacing linebacker Nick Chubb (58) and safety Brian Allen (52).
• Tackles for Loss (5) – While defensive linemen and linebackers usually rack up tackles for loss, Banks has already recorded five, underscoring his aggressiveness and ability to read plays early.
• Passes Defended (4) – His four passes defended place him in the top 25 of the NFL for a rookie safety, signaling a knack for disrupting the passing game.
• Forced Fumbles (1) – The one forced fumble came in a crucial 4th‑quarter play against the Eagles, showcasing his instinctual awareness.

These numbers, when compared to the Giants’ own internal averages, illustrate why the defensive coaching staff is keeping him on the field: Banks isn’t simply rolling over the ball; he’s stopping the ball in the open field and forcing turnovers. He’s the kind of player who can be a catalyst in both the run defense and the secondary.

A Defensive Back with a College Legacy

Banks’ journey to New York began in 2015 at the University of Florida, where he made a name for himself as a shutdown safety. He was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft (111th overall), after a college career that included 122 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble. While his rookie season in 2022 was limited by a hamstring injury, he returned in 2023 to become a key contributor on the Giants’ defensive squad.

“Deonte’s speed and instinct have always been remarkable,” said Giants defensive coordinator Joe Smith in a recent press conference. “He’s a player who reads the quarterback and shows up in the right spot. The fact that he’s leading the team in tackles speaks volumes about his work ethic.”

Giants Defensive Philosophy and Banks’ Role

The Giants are in a rebuilding phase, and the defensive coordinator has stated that the coaching staff is looking to a younger core to carry the load. Banks is one of the most promising pieces in that equation. He is tasked with both guarding the deep middle of the field and serving as the “anchor” in run support against inside rushing threats.

“On the field, you can’t afford to have a safety who only comes up for the deep ball,” explains Giants head coach Kevin Clark. “Deonte has that balance; he’s a man in the trenches as well as a ball‑hawker. That’s exactly what we need.”

Linking Up With the Giants’ Roster

The original SI.com article is part of the “Big Blue Plus” series, a weekly roundup that provides statistical insights and narrative analysis on all aspects of Giants football. The article itself links to several other pieces for additional context:

• Giants Roster Overview – A deep dive into the current depth chart, highlighting how Banks sits behind a veteran trio in the safety spot.
• Giants Defensive Stats – A comprehensive look at how the defense fared across all metrics during the season so far.
• Deonte Banks Profile – A biographical piece that traces Banks’ journey from college to the pros, including early life, college performance, and the draft process.
• NFL Play‑by‑Play Database – The raw data used to calculate the 65 total tackles, providing a snapshot of each game where Banks made a tackle.

These links serve to contextualize Banks’ numbers, both within the Giants organization and the wider NFL landscape. They also give readers a deeper understanding of why his performance is noteworthy.

What Comes Next?

The Giants are still in the early part of the season, and the defensive scheme may shift as the coaching staff evaluates performance. If Banks continues on this trajectory, he could very well become a central figure in the Giants’ playoff push. He is already being cited as a “dark horse” by analysts, and some commentators have begun to suggest that he could be on the radar of Pro‑Bowl voters in his second year.

In the meantime, the Giants’ coaching staff will continue to evaluate how well Banks’ tackling efficiency translates into a broader impact on the defensive unit. If he can maintain his tackling numbers while also expanding his coverage abilities, he will become a critical component of the Giants’ defensive identity.

In a season that’s already proving unpredictable, Deonte Banks’s rise in the tackle column is a bright spot that reflects both his individual talent and the Giants’ commitment to building a defense from the inside out.