Falcons DB Clark Phillips makes list of potential Day 3 starters

The Atlanta Falcons won’t need to lean on their 2023 NFL draft class as heavily as they have in years past. General manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith went on a spending frenzy to eliminate most of the major holes on the roster before the draft.

Still, it never hurts to find overlooked talent in the later rounds. In 2022, the team found running back Tyler Allgeier in the fifth round, and by the end of the season, the rookie had supplanted Cordarrelle Patterson as Atlanta’s No. 1 back.

So which member of the Falcons’ 2023 class could have an Allgeier-like impact this season? In a new feature by NFL.com, Chad Reuter examines 12 potential rookie starters who were selected on Day 3 of the draft. According to Reuter, Falcons defensive back Clark Phillips III has a chance to start as the team’s nickel corner in 2023:

Phillips was one of the top defenders in college football during his Utah career. His size (5-foot-9, 184 pounds) and average speed (4.51-second 40-yard dash) predictably pushed him into the fourth round, but I expect him to make plays from the slot in training camp and preseason games, reading routes and the eyes of quarterbacks to earn the nod as the starting nickel back. — Chad Reuter, NFL.com

Phillips was considered a steal in the fourth round as the former Utah standout was projected to go in the second or third round. In 2022, Phillips recorded six interceptions playing both inside and outside corner for the Utes.

Will Phillips be able to crack the rotation in the Falcons’ revamped secondary? Atlanta signed Jessie Bates III, Mike Hughes, and Tre Flowers in free agency, and traded for former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah.

So while we expect Phillips to get some playing time, it’s tough to envision the rookie earning a starting role early on. Atlanta has signed five of its six draft picks, including Phillips, but second-round pick Matthew Bergeron remains unsigned.