Sources: Steelers Host Maryland CB Deonte Banks on Pre-Draft Visit

The Steelers will host standout Maryland CB Deonte Banks on a Top-30 pre-draft visit, sources confirm to Steelers Now.

A visit for Banks comes on the heels of other cornerbacks visiting the Steelers for similar visits, including Emmanuel Forbes, Kelee Ringo, Julius Brents, Joey Porter Jr., and Tyrique Stevenson at the position. After signing Patrick Peterson but losing Cam Sutton, the need at cornerback is still there for the team.

As for Banks, he racked up 2 interceptions, 11 pass deflections, 83 tackles, and played in all twelve games during the 2022 season. Banks has risen up draft boards after smashing the NFL Combine. In Indianapolis, Deonte Banks ran a 4.35 40-yard dash, jumped 42-inches in the vertical, and measured in at 6-foot, 197 pounds.

In recent weeks, Banks has been a player that continues to rise up draft boards. However, could he be the pick at 17? Mike Tomlin is often familiar with players from Maryland, and Banks played with his son, Dino, with the Terrapins for multiple seasons. In Mel Kiper’s last NFL Mock Draft, Pittsburgh landed Banks at 17th overall.  Pittsburgh and Banks had a formal meeting at the NFL Combine to go with the new Top-30 visit.

One thing about Banks is he doesn’t have a ton of tape to go on. He made eight starts as a freshman in 2019, then Maryland played only five games due to COVID-19 in 2020. In 2021, he played the first two games before suffering a season-ending injury. In his senior season, he had 38 tackles, eight pass breakups, and one interception across twelve games, leaving his Terps career with just two takeaways.

It seems that the Steelers are in the cornerback market heavily. Who do they land and when? It all seems to be earlier cornerbacks that they are hosting for visits, and as such, you can expect that the Steelers will be in play for Banks and a bevy of other cornerbacks.