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New York Giants snagged an absolute steal for their defense according to scouts and NFL Draft experts

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Travis May | Last updated 5/7/24

The NFL Draft is behind us, but the dust is still settling. In the weeks that follow every NFL Draft there are always leaks and little pieces of information that emerge as teams and media process what just happened. One of the most interesting pieces of information that's come to light as it relates to the New York Giants had to do with their third round pick of Andru Phillips, a cornerback from Kentucky.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN shared that multiple scouts and NFL teams he spoke with actually had late first round grades on him. Why? He was reportedly incredibly impressive in interviews, easily grasping defensive concepts, showing he fully understands the complexities of NFL defenses.

The idea that Andru Phillips was in fact a potential first round talent may surprise some, but he truly did dominate the NFL Draft process. While at the Senior Bowl earlier this spring, Phillips was the first defensive back to jam and easily win a rep against Ladd McConkey (as you can see in the post below from A to Z Sports' own Nicholas McGee).

Andru Phillips has a top-30 visit with the 49ers

He showed out at the Senior Bowl, his efforts including this successful rep against Ladd McConkey

Videos courtesy of @FF_TravisM pic.twitter.com/3nh2sMxn3b
— Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24) April 4, 2024

Then after the Senior Bowl, Phillips was off to the NFL Combine just a few short weeks later. And while he posted merely adequate long speed numbers, his Burst Score was nearly off the charts! His 42-inch vertical jump and 11'3" broad jump combined to give him a 99th percentile Burst Score among all defensive backs at the NFL Combine since the year 2000.

That burst shows up in his play style everywhere. Whether it's sprinting to close on underneath targets, pursuing in the run game, or bursting towards receivers to close the gap on deep targets, Phillips' athleticism is ever present in his game.

And Fowler's notes from scouts weren't the only sign that the Giants snagged an absolute steal for their defense with Phillips. Pro Football Focus named him their favorite pick of the entire 3rd round!

#Giants rookie CB Andru Phillips:

- 542 snaps outside, 415 in the slot
- 23 defensive stops in 2023 (1st among SEC CBs)
- 42-inch vertical jump (T-5th at Combine)
- Physical, great run defender
- Sticky man-coverage corner

PFF named him their favorite pick of the 3rd round pic.twitter.com/BtP9CH2pw8
— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) May 7, 2024

His versatility to play both outside and in the slot. His incredible run-stopping ability. His physicality and sticky man-coverage ability. Phillips is the total package.

Phillips will immediately become the Giants' second best cornerback working in tandem with Deonte Banks from day one. Landing a plug-and-play talent like him in the third round was an incredible value, and will likely go down as the steal of round three in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Be looking for more New York Giants coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

And if you want to watch some Andru Phillips highlights to see how he could impress early for the New York Giants you can check out the video below!