Another Pundit Piles on for Vikings Draft Frontrunner
If the NFL draft was decided by pundits’ mock drafts — hint: it’s not — one man would be heading to the Minnesota Vikings on April 27th.
He’s Deonte Banks, a cornerback from the University of Maryland.
Another Pundit Piles on for Vikings Draft Frontrunner
In the last two weeks or so, Banks has morphed into the Vikings draft darling, courtesy of the who’s-who of NFL draft experts. It’s as if a switch was flipped, and everyone said, “This guy belongs on the Vikings.”
The defensive back scripted a magnificent NFL Combine last week, and that did not hurt his momentum to be selected early in the draft one iota. Banks fired up the following marks in Indianapolis at the combine:
- 40-yard: 4.35 (92nd percentile)
- Vert: 42″ (97th percentile)
- Broad: 11’4” (98th percentile)
Pro Football Focus Trevor Sikkema tweeted about the performance, “That athleticism absolutely shows up on tape as one of the best coverage players in that class. First round player.”
Then, the Vikings predictions intensified. ESPN’s Todd McShay authored a post-combine mock draft, and Banks was again linked to Minnesota. McShay wrote, “Banks was really impressive in Indianapolis and is getting a lot of buzz after running 4.35 in the 40, leaping 42 inches in the vert and flying 11-foot-4 in the broad jump. Those are all top-three numbers among corners. And while he had just one pick last season, he did break up 10 passes and limit opponents to 4.6 yards per attempt. Banks is an explosive player.”
“Cornerback Patrick Peterson is now a 32-year-old free agent, and the Vikings allowed a 66.7% completion percentage (ninth-highest) and 5.9 yards per play (third-highest) last season. Banks could help,” McShay concluded.
Additionally, last week at the combine, ESPN’s Jordan Reid told Vikings reporter Gabe Henderson, “Deonte Banks from Maryland — he’s one I would put a gold star beside if I was Vikings fans. I think he’s going to be a name you see projected to the Vikings.”
Before that, Mel Kiper mock-drafted Banks to the Vikings. On February 21st, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah did the same thing. And between the Kiper and Jeremiah mocks, PFF selected Banks for Minnesota, too.
It’s all over the place.
Banks tallied 38 total tackles, 8 passes defended, and 1 interception in 2022, his final season as a Terrapin. The knock on him is injury, as he played just 30 games in college. He’s also said to lack explosiveness and closing speed.
Standing 6’2″ and tipping scales at 205 pounds, Banks is a beefy physical corner — the type that could thrive in a Brian Flores defense. As of March 6th, the Vikings employ Andrew Booth, Cameron Dantzler, and Akayleb Evans as possibly-startable cornerbacks, and that trio doesn’t inspire much trust. Tay Gowan and Kalon Barnes are also on the roster but aren’t considered starting material.
Pundits probably forecast Banks to the Vikings to hedge the bet against Patrick Peterson and Duke Shelley perhaps leaving the team. Both are free agents and can sign anywhere next week.
But jot it down, with seven weeks before the draft, Banks is the all the buzz for the Vikings.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.