ADRIAN PHILLIPS – SAFETY
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 210lbs
40 yard dash: 4.58
2017 stats: Interceptions 2, Passes defended 5, Tackles 59
2018 stats: Interceptions 1, Passes defended 9, Tackles 94
If the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for a replacement for Morgan Burnett, this is where their search should begin. Phillips is a former undrafted free agent out of Texas coming off a career year. Not only did he have a whopping 94 tackles from the safety/nickel backer position, but he also made the Pro-Bowl as a special team ace. In fact, Phillips probably is everything Kevin Colbert wanted in Burnett and more. This quote by Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley in a piece by ESPN.com’s Eric Williams really got my attention…
First of all he’s extremely intelligent. He can play strong safety, free safety, dime linebacker and nickel linebacker for us. We’d be extremely comfortable if he was in any of those positions. So that intelligence, he’s got football IQ that is, to say compare him to anybody, he’s the most elite guys in that area that I’ve ever been around.
The free agent safety class might be deeper than any other position this offseason. That means the Steelers could sign Phillips at a bargain provided the Chargers don’t resign him. At only twenty six years old, Phillips may be ready to take his career to another level. He would be a welcomed addition to the Steelers defense.