Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The State of the Steelers
The Steelers seem to have discovered their QB in 2022! Kenny Pickett began slowly, however because the season progressed, he established himself as a gradual presence. Over the past 4 to five video games final 12 months, Pickett seemed like a top-20 QB; he averted expensive errors and led 4 game-winning drives. Whereas it stays to be seen if Pickett can turn into elite and lead the Steelers to the highest tier of the AFC, he confirmed sufficient to persuade the entrance workplace that they’ll construct round Pickett and really take the most effective participant accessible in Spherical 1. If the Males of Metal have certainly discovered their long-term sign caller, combining him with excellent head coach Mike Tomlin for years to return is dangerous information for the remainder of the AFC.
2022 Rankings
DVOA Offense: 18th (18th move, fifteenth run)
DVOA Protection: twelfth (nineteenth move, sixth move)
Courtesy of Soccer Outsiders
As you’ll be able to see, the Steelers may very well be higher passing the ball and stopping the move. They’ve good receivers with the above common Diontae Johnson and future star George Pickens on the skin. With Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth locked in at working again and tight finish, respectively, the Steelers are fairly set at offensive ability positions.
Staff Wants
BehindTheSteelCurtain.com sums it up nicely:
Offensive Line
The Steelers are within the technique of rebuilding their offensive line. They signed Eagles’ free-agents Nate Herbig and Issaac Seumalo over the previous months. Absolutely two strong acquisitions, however there’s tons extra work to be achieved right here.
And do you know? Le’Raven Clark is their backup proper deal with! Yeesh. You possibly can wager Pittsburgh can be hoping for a robust offensive deal with to fall of their lap at #17.
Secondary
When it comes to move defenders, Pittsburgh is weak at CB each within the intermediate and long-term. They misplaced sturdy starter Cameron Sutton to the Lions in free company however had been capable of backfill with Patrick Peterson. The latter is a reliable to above-average nook coming into his age-33 season, however the Black and Yellow want so as to add expertise and youth on the skin.
The Draft Setup
The Steelers will certainly be on the lookout for an offensive deal with within the first, however the prime 4 offensive tackles are all off the board on this mock.
Bijan Robinson is protruding like a sore thumb right here because the Steelers stare down the barrel of #17. Whereas that is a particularly tempting state of affairs for Omar Khan in his first draft because the Steelers GM—think about Kenny Pickett handing off and throwing test downs to the beastly Robinson!—this is a company constructed on doing the sensible factor. As everyone knows, they haven’t had dropping season since 2003, which is earlier than the Tomlin period started. To not point out, they already burned a first-rounder on Alabama working again Najee Harris in 2021 and are probably regretting that call. So, the Steelers simply can’t convey themselves to take Bijan Robinson right here.
The Choose
On this train, CB1 (Christian Gonzalez), CB2 (Devon Witherspoon), and CB3 (Joey Porter Jr.) are all gone. The Steelers are due to this fact compelled to “settle” for CB4, Maryland Terrapin Deonte Banks. Whereas that is definitely not a big-name, splashy decide, the Steelers make the sensible transfer to solidify their defensive backfield for years to return. Apparently, there’s vital buzz amongst draftniks about Joey Porter falling down and Deonte Banks ascending draft boards, so it will likely be attention-grabbing to see whose title is named first on April twenty seventh. It’s price noting that Pittsburgh did host Banks on a top-30 go to.
The Participant
Measurables
Deonte Banks is a CB prospect within the 2023 draft class. He scored a ten.00 RAS out of a potential 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 2183 CB from 1987 to 2023.
Word that he reveals as 10.00, however is ranked 2. That is as a result of rounding and excessive quantity at CB.https://t.co/ARjCreFH2k #RAS pic.twitter.com/t2nkFf2p2F
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 8, 2023
Deonte Banks is particular athletically. His relative athletic rating (RAS) positioned him at #2 out of 2171 cornerbacks on the mix since 1987. That’s fairly nuts. His spider chart is equally spectacular (courtesy of MockDraftable.com):
Deonte Banks has good dimension and is extraordinarily quick. You might recall that folks had been speaking effusively about Eagles defensive deal with Jordan Davis’ generational athleticism in the identical manner after the 2022 mix along with his RAS. It’s honest to marvel—do these mix athleticism numbers imply something or are all of us simply getting Mamula’d right here? Nicely, as Fran Duffy likes to say, “The attention within the sky don’t lie.”
Movie Overview
Activate the tape, and you will note:
A keen and aggressive tackler. Banks does an impressive job of ending by means of the ball service.
Elite pace, or “make-up” pace.
When pursuing ball carriers on display passes or bubble screens, he’s fairly lethal
Very sturdy ball abilities
Banks isn’t out of place
On tape, Banks’ blazing pace jumps out. He has what they name “make-up” pace within the NFL, the place the nook will be beat when the ball is launched, however continues to be capable of kick into an additional gear to satisfy the receiver on the ball. You might bear in mind Ronald Darby having success early in his profession thanks partially to his super make-up pace. Banks’ positional consciousness, acceleration, top-end pace, and robust ball abilities, enable him to win late within the down. The numbers again it up:
Share of 1st downs/TDs allowed in main protection.
1. Devon Witherspoon – 20.8percent2. Emmanuel Forbes – 23.3percent3. Deonte Banks – 26.6percent4. Cam Smith – 31.4percent5. Christian Gonzalez – 32.8percent6. Joey Porter Jr – 34.1%
Forbes weight is holding him again from being talked about extra.
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) April 5, 2023
Deonte Banks is true up there with the large names by way of shut-down means.
Abstract and Staff Outlook
Deonte Banks initiatives as a CB1 within the NFL. For a staff needing high quality defensive backs because the Steelers do, he is a good funding at #17. If the Pittsburgh can shield Kenny Pickett and get improved play from their secondary, they are going to be a menace to make the playoffs and perhaps win a postseason sport subsequent 12 months. That state of affairs could be welcomed by the second-greatest fanbase within the NFL. Go Birds!
Shoutout to @Dr.Skoot on BehindTheSteelCurtain for assist researching this text.
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2023 BGN Mock Draft Order
1) Panthers (pheebthegoose): QB Bryce Young2) Texans (Phoenix X Minimus): QB C.J. Stroud3) Cardinals (alwaysaphillyfan): EDGE Will Anderson4) Colts (eaglenomics): QB Anthony Richardson5) Seahawks (The Participant Previously Often known as Mousecop): DT Jalen Carter6) Lions (Sam2TheMaximum): DE Tyree Wilson7) Raiders (joey2arms): OT Paris Johnson Jr.8) Falcons (Kephas): CB Christian Gonzalez9) Bears (chewy wellington): OT Peter Skoronski10) Eagles (Philly21): CB Devon Witherspoon11) Titans (RachAttack): WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba12) Texans (Domonate): WR Quentin Johnston13) Jets (JawnJam): OT Broderick Jones14) Patriots (Amish Eagle Lion): CB Joey Porter Jr.15) Packers (bdawk4ever): QB Will Levis16) Commanders (the canine did it): OT Darnell Wright17) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen): CB Deonte Banks18) Lions (DreadPirateRocco)19) Buccaneers (Neil Dutton)20) Seahawks (wardbell92)21) Chargers (Brendanekstrom)22) Ravens (Rollinpin)23) Vikings (FierceDisc65)24) Jaguars (Leo Bedio)25) Giants (dkays)26) Cowboys (roberticus01)27) Payments (EHyungNim)28) Bengals (mainmanham)29) Saints (RiverCityEagle)30) Eagles (ablesser88)31) Chiefs (Hoosinole)
Now it’s time so that you can vote for who YOU assume ought to be chosen within the 2023 BGN Neighborhood Consensus Mock Draft.
Ballot
Who ought to the Steelers choose at No. 17 general?
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57 votes complete
Vote Now
1) Panthers: QB C.J. Stroud2) Texans: QB Bryce Young3) Cardinals: EDGE Will Anderson4) Colts: QB Anthony Richardson5) Seahawks: DT Jalen Carter6) Lions: DE Tyree Wilson7) Raiders: OT Paris Johnson Jr.8) Falcons: CB Christian Gonzalez9) Bears: OT Peter Skoronski10) Eagles: CB Devon Witherspoon11) Titans: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba12) Texans: DE Myles Murphy13) Jets: OT Broderick Jones14) Patriots: CB Joey Porter Jr.15) Packers: DE Nolan Smith16) Commanders: OT Darnell Wright17) Steelers: