The New York Giants boast a revamped secondary in what is expected to be one of the more improved units in football in 2025. The G-Men signed both Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo to three-year deals, so the foundation is in place for the back-end for the foreseeable future.
Yet Big Blue struck gold during the 2024 NFL Draft, finding two cornerstone DBs in Tyler Nubin and Dru Phillips. Phillips totaled 71 tackles, forced two fumbles, and had seven tackles for loss en route to becoming one of the brightest young nickel corners. The former third-round pick impressed in Year 1, but got LASIK surgery this offseason and looks primed for an even more impressive Year 2.
"Last year was really fast…I feel like I've really learned the game and it has slowed down for me a lot,” the 23-year-old told SNY.
Second-year DB Andru Phillips is getting lost in the noise
Earlier this summer, Nubin said that the secondary fed off of the lack of attention they were receiving and that they knew what the room was capable of. And the 5-foot-11 defender fits right into that mold, thriving when no one is looking but delivering when it matters most.
Most of the attention in New York has gone towards the revamped quarterback room or the game-breaking potential on the defensive line. But the secondary has quietly emerged as one of the most consistent aspects of Brian Daboll’s roster after the team struggled in that area in 2024, but it has not been a strong summer for Deonte Banks.
NFL defenses are as much about mental fortitude and anticipation as it is athleticism and tools, and Phillips has shown the ability to process information quickly, communicate pre-snap adjustments, and make smart in-game decisions. And with another year playing in defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s scheme, he’s entering his sophomore season mentally sharper than ever before.
“I can make adjustments and calls on the field I wouldn’t have made last year or I would have missed out on…that mental part is what I’ve grown at.”
That offseason surgery will be a key aspect of his improvement. He still managed to accumulate respectable numbers as a rookie while hardly being able to see, but those 11 missed tackles should be a thing of the past.
If the G-Men want their secondary to be an area of improvement in 2025, keep an eye on No. 22. As the Giants look to continue their upward trajectory, Phillips is one of the players poised to ascend to stardom.