Giants Corner Seeing Clearly Ahead of Year 2

Things went well for the vast majority of the New York Giants’ 2024 draft class. Receiver Malik Nabers is a superstar, and just one of five starters the Giants found across their six selections.

Among them, and perhaps the second most promising of the group, is corner Dru Phillips. A third-round pick, he entered East Rutherford as a versatile defensive back with uses across the secondary but spent his entire rookie season in the slot.

With a willingness to get his hands dirty in the run and an ability to hold his own against slot receivers, Phillips found success in Year 1. He was New York’s best corner and fully inserted himself into the team’s long-term plans.

Now, he might get even better. The Giants' corner is hoping eye surgery fuels a 2025 breakout.

“LASIK was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” the second-year cornerback posted Monday.

“The process was smooth, recovery was quick, and I’m now seeing 20/20. Couldn’t recommend them more!”

Phillips’ eyes didn’t appear to be an issue as a rookie. He logged an interception and two forced fumbles to go with 71 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He’ll look to tack on some more ball production in his second season, a goal for the entire defense given the five it forced in 2024.

The corner isn’t alone in his quest for improved eyesight. Quarterback Jameis Winston once got LASIK, too, after a 30-interception season.

“No blurriness, and I think that’s huge,” Winston told reporters at the time (2020). “Depth perception has increased tremendously, and those are the big things. I didn’t have bad eyes, I just had astigmatism. I had certain things that they had to fix to increase the precision and the sharpness of my vision.”

Phillips’ upgrades won’t necessarily prove meaningful. As long as he continues to not feel ill effects from the surgery, the Giants stand to gain from his offseason.