Giants' Deonte Banks 'wants' challenge of Vikings' Justin Jefferson

On paper, this coming Sunday's expected matchup between second-year New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks and superstar Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson favors Jefferson and the Vikings. 

Banks suggested while speaking with reporters on Tuesday he won't shy away from guarding Jefferson early and often at MetLife Stadium.

"I love the fact it’s right into it. … Just take it head on," Banks said about facing Jefferson, as shared by Zach Braziller of the New York Post. "This is what they drafted me for, this is what I came here to do. This is what I want. I wouldn’t want it [any] other way, really." 

The Giants made Banks the 24th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he recorded two interceptions, 11 passes defensed and 64 total tackles across 15 starts as a rookie. According to Pro Football Focus (h/t Braziller), Banks ended the campaign ranked 24th out of 74 qualified players with an 84.7 passer rating against. Per Ed Valentine of Big Blue View, Banks surrendered a 55.6 percent completion rate last season. 

Jefferson, meanwhile, is arguably the league's best player at his position when healthy. StatMuse stats show that he has tallied the NFL's second-most regular-season receiving yards (5,899 in 60 games) since he entered the league via the 2020 draft. Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins is first on that list with 6,024 yards that he recorded across 65 contests. 

"It gives me a challenge. I like challenges," Banks said about trying to stop Jefferson. "They’re fun. I feel like I match up well [with him]."

Individuals such as Gabriel Trevino of NJ Advance Media repeatedly mentioned throughout the summer that New York has holes throughout its secondary regardless of Banks' talent and promise. Numerous preseason predictions have forecasted the 2024 Giants will struggle to match the club's 6-11 record from a season ago in part because of such roster weaknesses. 

Banks acknowledged that Jefferson, who signed a massive four-year contract extension worth up to $140M in June, is "elite" and "great at contested catches." However, the 23-year-old seemingly isn't losing sleep because of the task ahead. 

"I’m not a person that lacks confidence," Banks added on Tuesday, "but I feel so confident. I feel really good." 

How Banks feels on Sunday evening could say plenty about the state of New York's pass defense and about the team's chances of competing for anything of note this season.