Add The New York Post on Google John Harbaugh’s meritocracy can feature Deonte Banks as the poster boy for its ad campaigns.
Banks was listed as a starting cornerback on the Giants unofficial depth chart for Sunday against the Cowboys. He was placed ahead of Paulson Adebo, who has a team-high $21.4 million salary-cap hit.
What does an unofficial depth chart mean? Nothing is set in stone, but the team wouldn’t publish something that the coaches do not approve.
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Greg Newsome, Banks, Adebo and rookie Colton Hood all were competing for a pecking order when training camp opened.
Hood was slowed by an injury and Newsome separated from the pack so much that he rested in the preseason finale.
The true battle emerged between Banks – a once-promising rookie whose career went off the rails with healthy scratches and effort questions over the last two seasons – and Adebo, who was signed to a three-year, $54 million contract in March 2025 to be a difference-maker.
Adebo did not meet expectations last season, missed the start of voluntary offseason workouts under Harbaugh and looked a step slow in training camp.
Giants cornerback Deonte Banks (2) talks to an official after being penalized during the first half of agame against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. Noah K. Murray for NY Post Banks’ resurgence is a case of capitalizing on a fresh start and a better player-scheme marriage.
Harbaugh wasn’t ready to officially announce a starting duo last week. And he didn’t rule out a Banks-Adebo rotation opposite Newsome, the way the Giants rotated Banks-Cor’Dale Flott opposite Adebo to open last season.
“There’s no reason to because if we name the starter then our opponents know how we’re going to go,” Harbaugh said. “It could be that way (rotating players). Or it could be two guys out there the whole time.
The Giants easily could have listed Banks and Adebo as co-starters, the way that they listed Tyrone Tracy Jr. or Najee Harris or Devin Singletary as the No. 2 running back behind Cam Skattebo.
Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo walks on the field during training camp at the Greenbrier on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST In the aftermath of Darius Slayton’s release, Malik Nabers and Darnell Mooney are listed as the starting receivers, ahead of second-teamers Malachi Fields and Odell Beckham Jr.
Jevon Holland is the punt returner, while Braxton Berrios idles on the practice squad.
