Giants rookie Dru Phillips proving he can hang among NFLs elite corners

Any list of the NFL’s best cornerbacks must include Patrick Surtain II, Marlon Humphrey and Trent McDuffie. Is Giants rookie Dru Phillips going to secure a place in that long-term conversation? Phillips is keeping esteemed company as the No.6-ranked cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ play-by-play grading system.

The list includes the right names — the Broncos’ Surtain, Ravens’ Humphrey and Chiefs’ McDuffie at Nos.1, 3 and 5, respectively — alongside a couple of rookies in Phillips and the Eagles’ Cooper DeJean and Bills breakout third-year pro Christian Benford. “Coming in, you hear about the NFL guys, and I give everyone the benefit of the doubt,” Phillips told The Post.

“But I go out there and I’m like, ‘Oh s–t, I’m pretty damn good, too.’ I’ve been out there going against the best, and I can hang.” Phillips, who has lined up in the slot on 425 of 511 defensive snaps, doesn’t have a PFF subscription but laughed in agreement at the suggestion that he might have to embrace the polarizing analytics website the way they support him. “It’s good to be recognized in some sort of way,” Phillips said.“It’s a cool accomplishment.

Good for confidence, I guess.” Until last week’s loss to the Falcons, Phillips was ranked No.2 — sandwiched between Defensive Player of the Year candidate Surtain and two-time Super Bowl champion McDuffie, both of whom were first-team All-Pros during their second seasons. “That’s a crazy thought,” Phillips laughed.

“After the season, I might sit back and be like, ‘I did pretty good.’ During the season, it’s just work, work, work to get to that point.” There’s no denying Phillips exceeded expectations for a third-round pick — a wasteland for Giants’ drafts over the last two decades — who has been stout in run support and allowed 30 catches for 274 yards and one touchdown in 14 games, per NextGenStats.Sign up for Inside the Giants by ...