The Los Angeles Chargers have done an excellent job of addressing the holes across their roster this offseason.
In the NFL Draft, they greatly increased the depth of their O-line while filling multiple needs on the defensive side of the ball. Combined with the signings of Charlie Kolar, Keaton Mitchell, Tyler Biadasz, Cole Strange, Alec Ingold, Dalvin Tomlinson, and David Njoku, there's very little work left for the Chargers apart from implementing their new scheme on both sides of the ball.
But the one thing they haven't addressed, at least not directly, has been the departure of Benjamin St-Juste to the Green Bay Packers in free agency. St-Juste played 37% of the team's defensive snaps last season. There's always a chance defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary is comfortable distributing most of those between Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart while addressing the roster gap with an internal option.
This is by no means a certainty, however. The Chargers should be on the lookout between now and the start of the season for any corners they feel can add value to the room. As fourth-year defender Deonte Banks fights for his life in the New York Giants' training camp, he could quickly become one of those options.
Deonte Banks could be the next resurgent talent in the Chargers' defensive system
Banks, undeniably, has been a bust to this point in his NFL career. Since he was selected 24th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by New York, he's consistently failed to live up to expectations. After playing a major defensive role in his first two seasons, his snap share was nearly halved in 2025 with the addition of Paulson Adebo. According to Pro Football Focus's grading system, Banks posted the fifth-worst coverage grade in the entire NFL last year.
Now, with second-round pick Colton Hood in the mix and Greg Newsome and Jason Pinnock added on one-year deals, Banks' spot on the roster will undeniably be threatened in training camp.
That doesn't mean there's not still upside there, though. Banks came into the league with top athletic traits, and the concern was always surrounding his ability to stay poised in coverage. New York has failed to develop that. But Los Angeles has one of the most promising defensive infrastructures in the league in addition to an experienced DBs coach in Steve Clinkscale. If Banks still has the tackling abilities and the mental acuity to fit into the Chargers' zone heavy scheme, he's exactly the type of player Los Angeles can maximize in the secondary.
It's important to note that cutting Banks would not provide the Giants with any cap savings. The $4.3 million remaining on his deal for 2026 is fully guaranteed.
It would likely take a trade involving late-round draft capital if the Chargers wanted to add Banks to the roster right now. Given Los Angeles' tendency to hang onto their draft picks, that doesn't seem like a likely outcome.
But when the roster crunch hits in New York and they have to make a real decision on Banks, there's always a world where he becomes available. If the Chargers haven't added a veteran corner or determined an internal solution by that point, Banks is someone they should certainly have their eyes on.
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