PFF hands out 2024 superlatives
Pro Football Focus recently handed out a few superlatives for each team across the NFL.
First up is each team's secret superstar from the 2024 season, in which PFF's Bradley Locker selected cornerback Dru Phillips for the Giants.
"Malik Nabers was the headliner rookie for New York, but Phillips was great in his own right," wrote Locker. "Among qualified cornerbacks, Phillips' 77.5 PFF overall grade ranked seventh, his 78.1 run-defense grade placed 15th and his 75.8 PFF coverage grade slotted 11th. Among all defensive rookies to play 500 or more snaps, Phillips ranked third in PFF overall grade, trailing only Jared Verse and Edgerrin Cooper. With the Giants needing more help on the boundary in the secondary, Phillips seems like a cornerstone slot man — and a gem of a pick by Joe Schoen."
Phillips played in 14 games with six starts. He registered 71 total tackles (46 solo), seven tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, and one interception.
According to PFF, the slot corner allowed just 41 receptions for 373 yards and one touchdown on 335 snaps in coverage.
After the conclusion of the regular season, PFF named Phillips among its top 15 rookies from the 2024 season (he landed at No. 13), a list that also featured wide receiver Malik Nabers at No. 3.
The analytics site also recently picked each team's most improved player from the 2024 season, as PFF's Thomas Valentine chose outside linebacker Brian Burns for the Giants.
"The Giants traded a second-round pick for Brian Burns, hoping that he could inject some life into a pass-rush that was lacking juice," wrote Valentine. "Burns hadn't turned into the elite pass-rusher that the Panthers were hoping for, but he took considerable steps forward from his final season in Carolina. His sack totals remained the same, but Burns' overall effectiveness improved. He had 61 pressures in his first season with the Giants, the second-highest total of his career, and the 13th-most in the NFL.
"Burns thrived in creating negative plays for opposing offenses in general. His 42 stops in 2024 were a career-high and the second-most in the NFL, behind Jonathon Cooper, and 30 of those defensive stops came against the run, an area where Burns has particularly struggled in his career. Stark improvement for an edge rusher who has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL."
The veteran pass rusher finished the season with a career-high 71 total tackles (42 solo), 17 tackles for loss, and eight passes defensed to go with his 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 18 quarterback hits. Burns was the only member of the Giants' defense to start every game this season, and one of only two players on either side of the ball to do so (guard Greg Van Roten).
According to Next Gen Stats, Burns ranked 11th in the league in quarterback pressures and fifth in quick pressures (within 2.5 seconds).
Currently on Giants.com
View photos of every NFL player selected with the third overall pick since the first draft in 1936.
QB Drake Maye - New England Patriots (2024)
DE Will Anderson Jr. - Houston Texans (2023)
CB Derek Stingley Jr. - Houston Texans (2022)
QB Trey Lance - San Francisco 49ers (2021)
CB Jeff Okudah - Detroit Lions (2020)
DT Quinnen Williams - New York Jets (2019)
QB Sam Darnold - New York Jets (2018)
DE Solomon Thomas - San Francisco 49ers (2017)
DE Joey Bosa - San Diego Chargers (2016)
DE Dante Fowler Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars (2015)
QB Blake Bortles - Jacksonville Jaguars (2014)
DE Dion Jordan - Miami Dolphins (2013)
RB Trent Richardson - Cleveland Browns (2012)
DT Marcell Dareus - Buffalo Bills (2011)
DT Gerald McCoy - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010)
DE Tyson Jackson - Kansas City Chiefs (2009)
QB Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons (2008)
T Joe Thomas - Cleveland Browns (2007)
QB Vince Young - Tennessee Titans (2006)
WR Braylon Edwards - Cleveland Browns (2005)
WR Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals (2004)
WR Andre Johnson - Houston Texans (2003)
QB Joey Harrington - Detroit Lions (2002)
DT Gerard Warren - Cleveland Browns (2001)
T Chris Samuels - Washington Redskins (2000)
QB Akili Smith - Cincinnati Bengals (1999)
DE Andre Wadsworth - Arizona Cardinals (1998)
CB Shawn Springs - Seattle Seahawks (1997)
DE Simeon Rice - Arizona Cardinals (1996)
QB Steve McNair - Houston Oilers (1995)
QB Heath Shuler - Washington Redskins (1994)
RB Garrison Hearst - Phoenix Cardinals (1993)
DT Sean Gilbert - Los Angeles Rams (1992)
CB Bruce Pickens - Atlanta Falcons (1991)
DT Cortez Kennedy - Seattle Seahawks (1990)
RB Barry Sanders - Detroit Lions (1989)
S Bennie Blades - Detroit Lions (1988)
RB Alonzo Highsmith - Houston Oilers (1987)
QB Jim Everett - Houston Oilers (1986)
DT Ray Childress - Houston Oilers (1985)
LB Carl Banks - New York Giants (1984)
RB Curt Warner - Seattle Seahawks (1983)
LB Chip Banks - Cleveland Browns (1982)
RB Freeman McNeil - New York Jets (1981)
T Anthony Munoz - Cincinnati Bengals (1980)
QB Jack Thompson - Cincinnati Bengals (1979)
WR Wes Chandler - New Orleans Saints (1978)
DT Eddie Edwards - Cincinnati Bengals (1977)
RB Chuck Muncie - New Orleans Saints (1976)
G Ken Huff - Baltimore Colts (1975)
G John Hicks - New York Giants (1974)
T Jerry Sisemore - Philadelphia Eagles (1973)
T Lionel Antoine - Chicago Bears (1972)
QB Dan Pastorini - Houston Oilers (1971)
QB Mike Phipps - Cleveland Browns (1970)
RB Leroy Keyes - Philadelphia Eagles (1969)
DE Claude Humphrey - Atlanta Falcons (1968)
QB Steve Spurrier - San Francisco 49ers (1967)
RB Dick Leftridge - Pittsburgh Steelers (1966)
LB Dick Butkus - Chicago Bears (1965)
WR Charley Taylor - Washington Redskins (1964)
DT Jim Dunaway - Minnesota Vikings (1963)
DT Merlin Olsen - Los Angeles Rams (1962)
DT Joe Rutgens - Washington Redskins (1961)
DB Johnny Robinson - Detroit Lions (1960)
DB Billy Stacy - Chicago Cardinals (1959)
LB Dan Currie - Green Bay Packers (1958)
QB John Brodie - San Francisco 49ers (1957)
RB Hopalong Cassady - Detroit Lions (1956)
RB Alan Ameche - Baltimore Colts (1955)
C Art Hunter - Green Bay Packers (1954)
QB Jack Scarbath - Washington Redskins (1953)
RB Ollie Matson - Chicago Cardinals (1952)
QB Y.A. Tittle - San Francisco 49ers (Colts disbanded after 1950 season, the players were made eligible for draft along with college seniors. Tittle was the No. 1 choice - 3rd overall - of 49ers in 1951.)
RB Chuck Hunsinger - Chicago Bears (1950)
RB Doak Walker - New York Bulldogs (1949)
QB Bobby Layne - Chicago Bears (1948)
G Fritz Barzilauskas - Boston Yanks (1947)
FB Doc Blanchard - Pittsburgh Steelers (1946)
HB Joe Renfroe - Boston/Brooklyn Yanks (1945)
HB Creighton Miller - Brooklyn Tigers (1944)
RB Glenn Dobbs - Chicago Cardinals (1943)
RB Pete Kmetovic - Philadelphia Eagles (1942)
RB Norm Standlee - Chicago Bears (1941)
QB Kay Eakin - Pittsburgh Steelers (1940)
RB Parker Hall - Cleveland Rams (1939)
RB Boyd Brumbaugh - Brooklyn Dodgers (1938)
QB Ray Buivid - Chicago Cardinals (1937)
HB Bill Shakespeare - Pittsburgh Pirates (1936)
Around the NFL
Subscribe to Giants Text Alerts to stay up to date on breaking news, ticket offers, gameday entertainment, and more!
