Dru Phillips garners high praise from NFL.com
NFL.com's Kevin Patra recently chose one overlooked/surprise contributor, or an "unsung hero," from each team across the league.
For the Giants, the honor went to rookie cornerback Dru Phillips.
"The third-round pick looks like a steal after Year 1, proving to be the Giants' top cover man," wrote Patra. "He led Big Blue with a -7.2 target EPA and was the only New York corner with a negative EPA per target (-0.17). The Giants desperately need help on the outside of the defense heading into 2025, but they should be confident in Phillips growing in the slot gig. Between WR Malik Nabers, Phillips and RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., the Giants' 2024 draft class produced multiple building blocks."
Phillips played in 14 games with six starts this season. He registered 71 total tackles (46 solo), seven tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, and one interception.
According to Pro Football Focus, the slot corner allowed just 41 receptions for 373 yards and one touchdown on 335 snaps in coverage.
After the conclusion of the regular season, PFF named Phillips among its top 15 rookies from the 2024 season (he landed at No. 13), a list that also featured wide receiver Malik Nabers at No. 3.
Of the 77 cornerbacks across the NFL that played at least 600 total snaps this season, Phillips ranked as PFF's seventh-best corner. When it came to the 2024 rookie class, Phillips was PFF's second-best corner, only behind Philadelphia's Cooper DeJean.
The Giants' 2024 rookie class has garnered plenty of praise since the conclusion of the regular season.
The entire draft class, along with one undrafted free agent, received All-Rookie honors from The Athletic just a few weeks ago.
Additionally, Nabers was ranked among the top wide receivers in the NFL by PFF, while Tyler Nubin was selected by the analytics site as the Giants' early 2025 breakout candidate.
View photos of the Giants' 2024 rookie class in their first NFL season.


WR Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants place kicker Jude McAtamney (99)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1), RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

DT Elijah Chatman (94)


WR Malik Nabers (1)

DT Elijah Chatman (94)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)


K Jude McAtamney (99)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

OLB Brian Burns (0), DT Elijah Chatman (94)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

RB Dante Miller (25)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

DT Elijah Chatman (94)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

DT Elijah Chatman (94)

DT Elijah Chatman (94), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

DT Elijah Chatman (94)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

RB Dante Miller (25)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

RB Dante Miller (25)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

K Jude McAtamney (99)

DT Elijah Chatman (94)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

K Jude McAtamney (99)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

G Jake Kubas (63)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

CB Dru Phillips (22), S Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants running back Dante Miller (25)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

New York Giants place kicker Jude McAtamney (99)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants place kicker Jude McAtamney (99)

New York Giants running back Dante Miller (25)

New York Giants running back Dante Miller (25)

New York Giants running back Dante Miller (25)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)


RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)


New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock (27),New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
![New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)]](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/svlxsa7cidc7hxhwdm8v.jpg)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)]

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84), touchdown

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)


New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84), touchdown

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84), touchdown

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

K Jude McAtamney (99)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

K Jude McAtamney (99)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

RB Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

DT Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), DT Elijah Chatman (94)

RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94),New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94),New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson

WR Malik Nabers (1), RB Tyrone Tracy (29)

LB Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

CB Dru Phillips (22), S Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Dru Phillips (22), CB Adoree' Jackson (21)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

84 Theo Johnson

84 Theo Johnson

S Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22), interception

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22), interception

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22), interception

S Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)g

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

DT Elijah Chatman (94)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) touchdown

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

S Tyler Nubin (31)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

WR Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29), touchdown

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29), touchdown

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29), touchdown

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29), touchdown

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)

ILB Darius Muasau (53)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

CB Dru Phillips (22)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

DT Elijah Chatman (94), DT Cory Durden (69)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

TE Theo Johnson (84)

S Tyler Nubin (31)