Giants rookie defender taking over starting role entering preseason

New York Giants rookie Dru Phillips appears to be in line for a starting role with the preseason arriving this week.

Though a lot of work is still ahead and the position battles are just heating up, Phillips has been seeing a significant increase in reps with the first-team defense.

A third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft , the Giants used the No. 70 pick on the Kentucky product in hopes he could quickly take over the starting nickel role.

According to Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic , that development has taken place thus far at training camp.

"The Giants didn’t get a starting outside cornerback in the second round of the draft but they might have found their starting nickel CB with the Phillips pick," Carroll wrote. "The Giants have certainly been practicing Phillips as if that’s the intention with the rookie acting as slot corner in a dime package-heavy practice last week."

Phillips has experience also working on the outside, but the Giants clearly have a plan to keep him in the slot. He's also been competing with Nick McCloud and Isaiah Simmons — the latter working as a big slot option.

One area Phillips has shined thus far through training camp has been his physicality. His college tape is littered with examples of a player who loves to be physical, and that's shown up when the pads have come on during camp.

Phillips does have some development ahead when it comes to his ball skills, especially considering he didn't record an interception during his collegiate career.

But the Giants simply need defenders who can get the job done in coverage while adding a little extra physicality against the run. Working from the slot, Phillips has an underrated role to assist the run defense.

The preseason will determine a lot of what's to come in terms of the depth chart, but the rookie appears to be carving out a significant role early on.

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