The 49ers are searching to find any person who can cover the slot, and they have their eye on Kentucky protecting returned Dru Phillips. San Francisco had a formal interview with Phillips at the NFL Scouting Combine, he instructed NBC Sports Bay Area on Thursday.
Phillips initiatives as a feasible third- or fourth-round draft select after he had an dazzling week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes Phillips will earn a beginning position at nickel returned at some point of his rookie season.
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It’s a function that Phillips stated is a proper fit for his skillset and mindset.
“For me, when I first started out enjoying nickel, it felt herbal to me,” he said. “I performed nook my first two years. I never played nickel. They put me at nickel in my 0.33 year, and it used to be natural. I feel like how I’d been getting ready for the past years, it just in shape me flawlessly to go inside.”
The 49ers commenced last season with Isaiah Oliver as the nickel back. After a three-game dropping streak, the 49ers switched matters up after the bye week. Starting cornerback Deommodore Lenoir moved interior to cowl the slot receiver in passing conditions with Ambry Thomas coming into at cornerback.
The 49ers made the selection to use veteran Logan Ryan at nickel back in the Super Bowl due to Thomas’ struggles.
