• Phillips is locking down his opposition: He has allowed solely 11 receptions for 46 yards and a position-leading 4.2 yards per reception charge. The rookie has but to give up a landing this season whereas letting up solely two first downs into his protection, each league-best marks.
• There is room for enchancment, in fact: He has but to file an interception or power an incompletion, certainly one of simply three qualifying cornerbacks who can say that by way of Week 7.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
2024 has not been sort to the New York Giants.
They’re 2-5, they’re tied with the Patriots for second-fewest factors within the league and the remainder of the groups of their division look very nicely arrange for the fast future.
One factor Giants followers can get enthusiastic about is the early returns on their 2024 NFL Draft class. First-round receiver Malik Nabers has gotten off to a scorching sizzling begin, whereas second-rounder Tyler Nubin has been displaying precisely why he was extensively thought of the very best security on this class. But it’s third-round cornerback Andru Phillips who is maybe the most important standout.
Taken with the seventieth choice out of Kentucky, Phillips hit the bottom working in his debut in opposition to the Vikings, placing up an 84.3 PFF recreation grade and a 90.9 PFF protection grade on solely 16 snaps. The soon-to-be 23-year-old hasn’t appeared again from that sturdy begin, as he has but to file PFF general or protection grades beneath 60.0 in any recreation all season. Through Week 7, Phillips sports activities an 83.3 PFF general grade, a 74.4 PFF run-defense grade, a 78.2 PFF tackling grade, an 80.6 PFF pass-rush grade and an 81.4 PFF protection grade — all of which rank within the prime seven amongst defensive rookies this season.
Highest Graded Rookie Cornerbacks Through Week 7
Phillips seems to be even higher primarily based on extra conventional numbers, as he’s allowed solely 11 receptions (5 of which got here in Week 2 in opposition to the Commanders) for 46 yards and a position-leading 4.2 yards per reception charge. Only Samuel Womack III of the Colts has allowed fewer yards. Phillips has but to give up a landing this season whereas letting up solely two first downs into his protection, each league-best marks.
Even when Phillips does enable a reception, he’s fast to make a play. He has made a cease (solo deal with that results in offensive failure) 9 instances in protection, tied for the seventh most within the NFL. Teams are additionally not testing the rookie cornerback, as his common depth of goal is simply 1.7 yards — the bottom within the NFL amongst qualifying cornerbacks.
PFF WAR signifies Phillips has been the sixth-most worthwhile rookie cornerback (0.09 wins above substitute) this season, not far behind first-place Quinyon Mitchell of the Eagles, at 0.12. However, the cornerbacks forward of him have all performed a minimum of 50 extra snaps, which elements into the WAR quantity.
Andru Phillips’ 2024 Game Log
The one knock you may make in opposition to Phillips is that he hasn’t been very opportunistic on protection. He has but to file an interception or power an incompletion, certainly one of simply three qualifying cornerbacks who can say that by way of Week 7.
The rookie largely goes beneath the radar with most NFL followers because of this. However, he does all of the little issues extraordinarily nicely. He isn’t utilized as typically as many others, as his 193 snaps this season rank simply twelfth on the Giants, however maybe that’s a mistake New York must rectify. With how productive Phillips has been to open his profession, the Giants might have discovered one other gem in what’s already trying like a home-run draft class.