Johnthan

Banks

Banks (6-foot-2, 185) is a long, lean ballhawking corner, but he needs to get stronger. He probably would have gone higher in the draft if not for his slow (4.61) forty at the Combine. Banks will see plenty of snaps as a rookie, whether it be as the starting right corner or as the nickel back.

Second-round pick Johnathan Banks will get a long look, but the Bucs “don’t see any need to fast-track” the rookie, and may lean toward veteran incumbent Wright. With Darrelle Revis taking on Island duty, the Bucs’ No. 2 corner will receive constant safety help. 2012 UDFA Leonard Johnson is an underdog here.

“I feel badly for him because I really like him on tape,” observed NFL Network’s Mike Mayock. Mayock noted that Joe Haden also ran slow forty times at the Combine, but has turned out alright. Banks will likely run the forty again at the Bulldogs’ Pro Day in order to put some better times on record. At this point, though, he’s almost certainly out of the top-32 draft mix.

The faster times should help after Banks bombed at the Combine, running a 4.61 to rank 41st among 54 defensive backs in Indy. He also ranked 40th among DBs in the vertical (34") at the Combine. Banks’ game tape remains first-round caliber, and NFL Draft insider Tony Pauline passes along “rumors” from the Mississippi State Pro Day that the Patriots are considering Banks late in round one.

His college listing was spot-on. Banks is a long, lean cornerback who faced the best wide receivers college has to offer in the SEC. Forty times are always crucial for corners’ draft slotting, so Banks will have the opportunity to up his stock when the DBs run on Sunday. He’s currently a late first-round projection.

The Jags have also been connected to Florida International S Johnathan Cyprien, and the gaggle of remaining quarterbacks. We’d suspect rookie Jags GM Dave Caldwell is very open to trading the No. 33 pick, as well.

Rapoport adds that the Jaguars -- who hold the first pick of the second round -- “love” Banks, and they are expected to hold onto the pick and go defense with it. Banks’ college teammate, Darius Slay, is also expected to come off the board quickly, as well as Boise State’s Jamar Taylor. Plenty of teams at the top of the second round are in need of corners.

Banks (6-foot-2, 185) is a lean, long-armed (33 7/8") corner who earned the 2012 Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. (The last four Thorpe winners are Mo Claiborne, Patrick Peterson, Eric Berry, and Malcolm Jenkins.) Banks’ stock took a hit when he ran 4.61 at the Combine and managed only 10 bench reps, and his game tape is only above average with a tendency to get beaten deep. It’s possible Banks will eventually move to safety in the NFL; he played some safety in the Bulldogs’ nickel and dime packages. Initially in Tampa, expect Banks to compete with Eric Wright at right cornerback.

Johnson is ahead of second-round rookie Johnthan Banks. It could be based on seniority, but there’s also a real chance Johnson is viewed in-house as the favorite to man the right corner spot. He’s a smallish, slowish, short-armed cover corner, but Johnson is a very willing tackler and packs a punch.

Reporter Stephen Holder believes Banks would have to be “superb” to beat out Wright in camp. Wright is still only 28 (next week), and barely a year removed from signing his since voided five-year, $37.5 million deal. He’s a strong bounce-back candidate provided he can put his injury and suspension-plagued 2012 behind him.