Deonte Banks

Steelers Eyeing First-Round Tackles; Team Interested In Trade-Up

April 24th, 2023 at 5:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Tomlin said recently he is comfortable redeploying the Steelers’ tackle tandem of the past two years — Dan Moore–Chukwuma Okorafor — but the team made efforts to upgrade its interior offensive line in free agency. Tackle appears a strong consideration in the draft.

The Steelers are interested in finding Kenny Pickett improved edge protection, with ESPN.com’s Todd McShay indicating the team has made inquiries about trading up from No. 17. Specifically, McShay names the Bears (No. 9) and Titans (No. 11) as teams the Steelers have contacted about a move up the board for a tackle. A tackle is indeed believed to be the reason the Steelers have been connected to moving up, Albert Breer of SI.com notes.

While the Steelers did not host Paris Johnson on a visit, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic adds the team met with the Ohio State tackle over dinner ahead of his pro day (subscription required). The Steelers, whom Kaboly notes dined with T.J. Watt and Artie Burns before selecting them in Round 1 during the 2010s, also met with other Buckeyes linemen.

This franchise does not have an extensive history in moving up, though such a move did take place for Devin Bush in 2019. The Steelers succeeded the other two times they have moved up in Round 1 (Troy Polamalu, Santonio Holmes) over the past 20 years. This is Omar Khan‘s first draft as Pittsburgh’s GM. He and assistant GM Andy Weidl have added some pieces up front, signing top guard Isaac Seumalo and adding Nate Herbig as well. The Steelers agreed to terms with tackle Le’Raven Clark, but that almost certainly is a depth-based acquisition. As of now, Moore and Okorafor should be considered Pittsburgh’s unquestioned starters at tackle.

Johnson has generated buzz to the point he might not be available at 9. The ex-Buckeyes standout has been connected to climbing into the top five, which would seemingly be out of the Steelers’ range due to the board jump required. But the likes of Peter Skoronski — who is seen by many as a guard — and Broderick Jones are also certain first-rounders-to-be. The Steelers did meet with Jones, a Georgia tackle, during the pre-draft visit window. Tennessee’s Darnell Wright may be available if the Steelers stick at No. 17.

The Steelers have not drafted a tackle in Round 1 since 1996 (Jamain Stephens) and have not selected an O-lineman in the first since David DeCastro 11 years ago. Okorafor (2018) and Moore (2021) each arrived as third-rounders. Both started all 17 games for the Steelers last season. Pro Football Focus rated each outside the top 55 at the position, however. Despite the Steelers enjoying steady health from their starting O-line, PFF ranked the unit 16th.

Pittsburgh has been connected to making a cornerback pick at No. 17 as well, and Breer adds Tomlin’s son, Dino, was in the same Maryland recruiting class as first-round prospect Deonte Banks. The ex-Terrapin, like Tomlin, visited the Steelers recently as well. But tackle has emerged as a position to watch regarding Pittsburgh’s first pick. Via the Chase Claypool trade, the Steelers also hold the No. 32 overall choice to bolster one of these areas as well.

2023 Prospect Profile: CB Deonte Banks

April 23rd, 2023 at 10:44pm CST by Ely Allen

Cornerback is one of the most difficult positions for analysts to evaluate from the college to professional levels, especially once you get past the first few names on the board. That’s currently where Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks sits: in that danger zone that normally falls from the middle to the end of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Banks is a hometown kid, going to Edgewood High School (Maryland), about an hour north of the University of Maryland. He was a three-star athlete that, despite some impressive play-making ability, struggled to attract much attention on the recruiting circuit. He didn’t receive his first offers until just after his junior season when he received interest from a number of Division II and FCS schools, eventually attracting the attention of a couple of Group of 5 schools like Buffalo and Kent State. Just before his senior season, Banks got the dream offer from his home-state school. He committed two weeks later.

Banks became an earlier contributor for the Terrapins as a freshman, making 28 tackles and tallying one interception and two passes defensed while starting eight of 11 games. He returned as a starter in 2020, but due to the COVID-shortened nature of the season, he was only able to make three starts in five games. His junior season was cut short, as well, when he suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery in just his second start of the season.

Coming back from the long-term injury, Banks shined in his return to the field as a redshirt junior. He reached career highs in total tackles (38) and passes defensed (9) while adding on another interception, half of a sack, and half of a tackle for a loss. He had perhaps his strongest game under the brightest lights, limiting Ohio State’s star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to five catches for 68 yards and no touchdowns. In that game, Banks tallied two pass breakups and blocked an extra point that got returned by a teammate for a defensive two-point conversion.

There are a couple parts of his game that could cause him to struggle in the NFL. A lack of production isn’t uncommon in college football, where the easiest way to avoid turnovers is to not target the opposing team’s best corner, but I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Banks only recorded two interceptions during his four years in College Park. He’s not too far behind the draft’s top corners in that regard, though. Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez only had four interceptions, with all of them coming this season. Devon Witherspoon out of Illinois has five interceptions even though he had zero in two of his four seasons of play. Joey Porter Jr. at Penn State had even less that Banks, recording only one interception in four years.

Besides that, Banks is physical, which defensive coaches love, until they don’t. If he draws too much attention at the NFL level with his aggression on defense, he’ll be the target of quite a few penalties, which are much more costly in the NFL than in college.

On the positive side, though, Banks has an ideal frame, matching size, strength, and speed. He uses his aggression to perfection to slow receivers off the line of scrimmage then uses quick hips and smooth footwork to trail receivers relentlessly. He could do a better job of reading between the quarterback and receiver, usually focusing only on the receiver, but he reads the receiver with impressive consistency and does a good job playing through their hands. He utilizes his aggression just as successfully on run plays and special teams and has the relentless motor needed for both.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly which team may end up selecting Banks, as pretty much any team could use more depth at cornerback, besides maybe the Dolphins, but it’s hard to imagine Banks slipping out of the first round with how many playoff teams in the back half of the first round desperately need help at cornerback. The Steelers would love a young Day 1 starter opposite Patrick Peterson. The Giants need someone to hold down the other side opposite Adoree’ Jackson. The Vikings are short on big names at the position, as well. I imagine Banks would love nothing more than to continue putting on for his city and playing for the nearby Ravens, who need someone opposite Marlon Humphrey with Marcus Peters still on the free agent market.

So far, there’s been no shortage of interest in Banks. All four of the above-mentioned teams, and an impressive 11 more, have met with the 22-year-old. It seems the biggest indicator for when he will be picked is going to be when the cornerbacks ranked above him get drafted. If Gonzalez and Witherspoon get selected relatively early, the teams in the late 20s likely won’t see Banks on the board. But if the draft is slow to cornerbacks, Banks could find himself in a pivotal role for a playoff contender.

Draft Notes: Porter, Jones, Washington, Murphy, Anudike-Uzomah, Banks, Branch

April 20th, 2023 at 3:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Pre-draft visit season wrapped up this week, but teams squeezed in several meetings before the deadline. A few booked Joey Porter Jr. visits. The Penn State cornerback met with the Eagles, Giants, Saints and Panthers before Wednesday’s deadline, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Porter also visited the Steelers, Ravens and Raiders previously. Graded as a first-round talent, Porter stands to follow Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez off the board at some point on the draft’s first night.

Here is how other prospects’ visit itineraries wrapped up:

The Steelers closed their visit schedule by meeting with both tackle Broderick Jones, tight end Darnell Washington and edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah, according to ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor and The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly (all Twitter links). Jones, whom ESPN’s Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah rate as a top-20 prospect, met with the Chiefs, Jets, Patriots, Bears and Cardinals during the visit window. The Steelers briefly considered Orlando Brown Jr., and Mike Tomlin indicated he was comfortable with the team’s current Dan Moore–Chukwuma Okorafor tackle setup.
Anudike-Uzomah and Washington also met with the Buccaneers, per Wilson and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter links). One of two high-level Georgia tight end prospects, Washington will enter the draft at least a year ahead of standout pass catcher Brock Bowers. After two sub-200-yard years, Washington totaled 454 and two touchdowns as a junior. Going 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds, Washington profiles as an in-line tight end with some receiving upside. Anudike-Uzomah totaled 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons at Kansas State. Both players profile as fringe first-round talents, with Jeremiah ranking Washington as the third-best option in this year’s deep tight end class.
Scouts Inc. rates Clemson’s Myles Murphy a few spots ahead of Anudike-Uzomah, at No. 23 overall, and the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala notes (via Twitter) the Commanders took a recent look at the edge defender this week. After extending Daron Payne, Washington still rosters its four first-round D-linemen. But only one of the four (Chase Young) arrived during Ron Rivera‘s tenure.
Much of the NFL wanted to meet with Deonte Banks. The Maryland cornerback spent extensive time in two of the country’s time zones. In addition to his meetings with the Raiders, Ravens, Commanders and Steelers, Banks visited 10 more teams — the Saints, Titans, Vikings, Texans, Giants, Buccaneers, Eagles, Jaguars, Bears and Bills — before the pre-draft meeting buzzer sounded, Rapoport tweets. Jeremiah slots Banks 24th overall, ranking the ex-Big Ten cover man as this year’s fourth-best corner. A former three-star recruit, Banks earned a starting job as a freshman. A shoulder injury halted his junior year after two games, but the 6-foot defender bounced back last season to close his career on the first-round radar.
The Giants also huddled up with safety/slot defender Brian Branch this week, Wilson tweets. The Alabama contributor had previously met with a host of teams. New York expected to re-sign Julian Love this offseason but lost the safety to Seattle. The team, which selected slot corner Cor’Dale Flott in last year’s third round, signed veteran Bobby McCain to a low-level contract and has Xavier McKinney returning from an injury-marred season.

AFC North Draft Rumors: Steelers, Ravens, Bengals

April 15th, 2023 at 6:06pm CST by Ely Allen

There have been quite a few rumors surrounding the Steelers’ potential approach to the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette held a Q&A this week to discuss his thoughts on some of those rumors.

Many fans had questions about potential options at wide receiver, and Dulac made his thoughts very clear: no higher than the third round. With Diontae Johnson and George Pickens in place, Dulac doesn’t see any need to dip into the first two rounds to add to the group. He mentions Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo as a name to lookout for, as Mingo has been predicted to go around the third or fourth round.

Another fan asked about the possibility of Pittsburgh trading up in the first round. Dulac dismissed the rumors as just that, insinuating that looking into trades is a common occurrence for the Steelers that doesn’t always lead to action. He referenced last year, when the team reportedly looked into trading up for quarterback Kenny Pickett, who would end up falling to them at their original position, anyway.

Here are a few other draft rumors from around the AFC North:

While many are focusing on the Ravens‘ potential draft needs for a wide receiver or quarterback, Ravens editorial director Ryan Mink pointed to the cornerback position as perhaps the most pressing hole to fill, a sentiment echoed by Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. With the addition of Odell Beckham Jr. and the current absence of Marcus Peters, cornerback is certainly a concern. Across from Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore currently has the options of starting Brandon Stephens, Damarion Williams, or Jalyn Armour-Davis. Both Mink and Zrebiec also make the extremely valid point that while the Ravens have a spotty history in the first round with wideouts (Breshad Perriman, Mark Clayton), their history with cornerbacks has been far more productive (Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, Chris McAlister, Duane Starks). Look for Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr., Maryland’s Deonte Banks, Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes, or Michigan’s DJ Turner to join that list. Both sides also anticipate the team making an addition through free agency, as well, with Rock Ya-Sin as the most likely target.
Despite the recent addition of Orlando Brown, the Bengals are still expected to target the offensive line early in the draft, according to Matt Miller of ESPN. If Cincinnati follows through on Jonah Williams‘s trade request, their first-round pick could address the loss. While top tackles like Ohio State’s Paris Johnson, Georgia’s Broderick Jones, and Tennessee’s Darnell Wright might not be around by the end of the first round, options like Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison, Syracuse’s Matthew Bergeron, and Ohio State’s Dawand Jones should still be available.

Draft Rumors: Murphy, Banks, Branch, Forbes, Torrence

April 12th, 2023 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top edge defenders available in the draft, Clemson’s Myles Murphy will have a busy week. The 6-foot-5 pass rusher met with the Jaguars earlier this week, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets, and Bengals, Falcons and Texans visits are on tap for one of Clemson’s two first-round-caliber D-line talents. Joining D-tackle Bryan Bresee on this front, Murphy submitted a consistent resume at the ACC power. In three seasons, the 268-pound edge recorded 18.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. The Jaguars, who have drafted an edge in Round 1 three times since 2019, go on the clock at No. 24. The Bengals, who have Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard signed beyond 2023, hold the No. 28 pick. The Texans (Nos. 2, 12) and Falcons (No. 8) are needier on the edge, but their draft slots might not align with a player ranked just outside the top 20.

Here is the latest from the draft:

Both Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah grade Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks just outside the top 20 as well, but he appears to be interviewing well with teams and trending upward. The Commanders, Ravens and Steelers are three of the teams impressed by Banks, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, who adds others are intrigued by the 6-foot cover man. The Raiders will host the former Big Ten defender today, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The Steelers will be connected to Round 1 corners, having lost Cameron Sutton, and the Ravens have not re-signed Marcus Peters. Both Washington and Pittsburgh cut William Jackson over the past seven months. The Raiders, who have not re-signed Rock Ya-Sin, seemingly have a perpetual cornerback need.
In addition to Emmanuel Forbes‘ Lions visit, the Mississippi State corner is a popular pre-draft guest. The Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots, Steelers, Titans and Vikings are on his visit schedule, Jon Sokoloff of WCBI tweets, with Wilson adding the Bengals and Commanders will take a look as well. Forbes’ frame will certainly come up at these meetings. Despite posting a Division I FBS-record six pick-sixes and intercepting 14 passes in three seasons, Forbes being 6-foot and 166 pounds will be an issue for teams. Nevertheless, he profiles as a late-first-round talent.
Staying on the DB front, Alabama’s Brian Branch might be the best bet for safety-needy teams in what is viewed as a weak class at the position. The Falcons, Commanders, Raiders, Texans and Vikings are on Branch’s pre-draft itinerary, per Wilson, who adds the Bills have a workout scheduled for the multiyear Crimson Tide contributor as well. Branch has extensive slot experience as well, providing potential flexibility for teams considering him in the late first round.
Like Branch, Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence profiles as the top player at his position going into the draft. The Louisiana transfer became a consensus All-American in 2022, and the Bills, Commanders and Steelers have auditioned him thus far, per Wilson and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter links). Each of these teams have added at guard already this offseason. The Steelers signed both Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig, while the Bills signed Connor McGovern. The Commanders signed ex-Giant Nick Gates but have plans to use him at center, where he played before a severe September 2021 injury sidetracked his career.