Former first-round pick Adoree’ Jackson is now a free agent after finishing a three-year, $39MM contract with the Giants. It’s almost certain he won’t be returning to New York. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports that the Giants’ decision not to offer a new contract to Jackson stems from their confidence in Deonte Banks to step up as a “true No. 1” cornerback.
Jackson enjoyed two successful seasons with the Giants, but his performance took a steep decline in 2023. Pro Football Focus rated him as the 15th and 31st best cornerback in the league during the first two years, but ranked him 117th out of 127 graded players in 2023.
Banks, a first-round pick in 2023, didn’t fare much better, being rated 110th in the NFL by PFF. Despite that, he performed well as a rookie, snagging two interceptions and leading the team with 11 passes defensed. He’s also highly regarded for his physical talent, and many believe he surpassed Jackson on the depth chart last season.
Banks will face a challenging task as the Giants’ top cornerback in 2024. The Giants start their season against Justin Jefferson and the Vikings. Other notable wide receivers he’ll face include Terry McLaurin (twice), CeeDee Lamb (twice), A.J. Brown (twice), Amari Cooper, D.K. Metcalf, and Ja’Marr Chase. The Giants have confidence that Banks will develop into the CB1 they need to succeed in 2024.
Other news from New York includes rumors that head coach Brian Daboll may take over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Mike Kafka in 2024. Dan Duggan of The Athletic reported that Daboll has been calling plays during OTAs. Daboll was spotted in the offensive huddle, while Kafka stood 10 to 15 yards behind the offense.
Giants defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson was a finalist to replace Wink Martindale as defensive coordinator, losing out to former Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Despite a potential exodus of defensive staff that usually follows such a change, Daboll ensured almost all of the assistant coaches stayed. Bowen was allowed to make changes as he saw fit, but following Daboll’s lead, Bowen retained most of the defensive staff from the previous campaign.
