Cornerback Dru Phillips
April 27, 2024
Q. You seemed pretty excited last night. Has that worn off at all?
DRU PHILLIPS: No, it hasn't worn off at all. This is a great opportunity and a great team like this. I'm so happy to be here. I haven't stopped smiling since I got the call. It's great.
Q. What do you think you can bring to this team?
DRU PHILLIPS: I feel like I can bring – you know, I'm a competitive player. I want to win down there at that defensive position, whether that's corner or slot, and I bring a fiery and versatility to the game and a different type of aggression I feel like every defense needs, but also at the same time, I bring that will to win. I want to come in here and help any way I can.
Q. How much do you think that Senior Bowl helped open people’s eyes at what you are able to do in a different level of competition, those guys day-to-day in practice?
DRU PHILLIPS: The Senior Bowl, it's probably one of the main reasons why I'm here right now in some sense. But you know, shout-out to Jim Nagy, that was something I wanted my whole life was to go to the Senior Bowl. When I got the op, I wasn't going to take it for granted. I was able to show stuff I wasn't able to show on film, just different type of coverages. I just want to go out there and compete and win, and I tried my hardest, so I know that helped me a lot.
Q. Why do you say that’s the reason you’re here?
DRU PHILLIPS: It helped me a lot, I trust I would have been in a good position, but just being out there and being able to help grow my stock and show more of who I can be as a player. You know, the Giants came and got me off a lot of that, too. I'm just blessed to be here.
Q. Did you leave that week knowing that you kind of crushed it and you opened some eyes?
DRU PHILLIPS: A little bit but not really. I didn't think I did too good. Not in that sense, but I'm always hard on myself. I'm going to be hard on myself for anything. So I left there and felt I could have done so much more better but when I did leave and I talked to my people and they are saying, oh, I guess I did help myself a nice bit.
Q. This defense is new to you but it's new to us, too, with the new coordinator. What have they told you they are looking for in cornerbacks in your conversations with them?
DRU PHILLIPS: They like, one, is my willingness to tackle. I know it's a thing, especially at those corners and now people want to tackle but I'm one of those guys, I want to get my nose dirty. Just my football IQ and just being savvy in it as well. You can be aggressive but then have some finesse to you, as well, and just go out there and win every rep.
Q. (Wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) had a little Tweet for you. Have you spoken to him at length about coming here and what the first day of training camp might be like?
DRU PHILLIPS: I’ve still got to get back to him about some of those things. Let me figure a little bit of stuff out first. You know, but he's always talked so great about it. He came back; we were working out together. He talked so great about it, so I feel like I know a little bit already. But definitely going to figure some more stuff out.
Q. How about going up against (wide receiver) Malik Nabers, and you know, good enough that you're drafted, you're here -- first-round pick, wide receiver -- maybe you'll lineup in rookie camp. What's your thought on him and proving yourself right away?
DRU PHILLIPS: Yeah, he's a great player. He's one of those guys, you can't miss him. You put on film and he's a difference-maker. For me to go against him every day, iron sharpens iron and I want to go against him and vice versa as well. I look forward to going against all of those guys every day.
Q. Did you get a chance to go against him one-on-one?
DRU PHILLIPS: Malik Nabers?
Q. Yeah.
DRU PHILLIPS: No, I didn't get to him in college. We didn't play LSU, that was a few years ago.
Q. What do you think of the cornerbacks in the room you’re coming into?
DRU PHILLIPS: They are ballers. I'm coming into a room with guys that are established, and they know what they are doing. They are so good. I'm just going to try to take a back seat and learn from them for a lot of things. They have been high picks or established in the league. I'm going to take tips but I'm excited to join a room like this.
Q. Did you get a chance to talk to (Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach) Jerome (Henderson) today?
DRU PHILLIPS: I talked to him. I talked to him.
Q. What did he say?
DRU PHILLIPS: He's my guy. He talked to him last night. We just chatted. He congratulated me. Just happy they were able to come get me, and I’m in this opportunity. We just look forward to getting some turnovers, that's the main thing.
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