NFL Draft Day 2 grades: How did the New York Giants do?

New York Giants fans were happy with GM Joe Schoen’s selections Friday of safety Tyler Nubin (Round 2, No. 47) and cornerback Andru Phillips (Round 3, No. 70) on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Eighty-one percent (1,134) of 1,331 voters gave the selection of Nubin an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade in our poll. Sixty-one percent (534) of 874 voters gave the selection of Phillips an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade.

Full poll results are below:

NFL Draft analysts loved the picks

Chad Reuter of NFL.com gave the Giants a B+.

The Giants traded their second-round pick to the Panthers for edge rusher Brian Burns. They received a second from Seattle for Leonard Williams, though, which made sense given the fact they didn’t plan on paying his lucrative contract. Despite average athleticism testing, Nubin was picked over Jaden Hicks and Javon Bullard to replace Xavier McKinney because of his strong tackling and nose for the ball. Phillips earned a top 75 grade with his aggressive coverage skills, meeting a big need for the Giants.

USA Today:

Nubin: B
Phillips: B

Pro Football Focus:

Nubin: “Elite”

PFF’s top-ranked safety prospect, Nubin is versatile and impactful. He can be moved all over the secondary and handle the role, as he possesses a high-level football IQ and can stop the run with instincts to cover on the back end. Nubin sported a career-best 90.1 coverage grade in 2023 (first among Power Five safeties) and allowed a 33.0 passer rating in coverage from 2021 to 2023.

Phillips: “Good”

The Giants drafted Deonte Banks in the first round of last year’s draft and now add more youth to that group early in the third round this year. His career-best 23 defensive stops led all SEC cornerbacks in 2023, and his 72.9 PFF coverage grade was also the best mark of his career.

The Athletic:

Nubin: A

Maybe the most underrated player in the draft, Nubin was both a solid coverage safety and a tremendous tackler at Minnesota. He will step in immediately for Xavier McKinney and thrive. Nubin finished his career with a school-record 13 interceptions and 24 passes defended, as well as 207 tackles. He’s a Day 1 starter.

Phillips: A

One of the most versatile corners in the draft, Phillips can play inside or outside — and even safety, if need be. A very physical, hyper-competitive player who will find a way to get on the field immediately, Phillips boasts a 42-inch vertical and plays with terrific speed. He’s also a very mature youngster from a high-achieving family. An easy favorite among the Day 2 cornerbacks.

33rd Team:

Nubin: A

Tyler Nubin is a fantastic deep ballhawk. The Giants now have an ideal safety tandem to hold down the back end of the unit. New York will benefit from his range and overall presence.

Phillips: B+

New York continues to overhaul its secondary, which was needed. Andru Phillips brings a great, pro-ready skill set. He’ll unlock more versatile looks for the unit.

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