OXNARD, Calif. - When Jordan Phillips found out this week that he had been traded from the Giants, the veteran defensive tackle wasn't surprised at all.
When he found it he was going to the Cowboys, that certainly wasn't something he was anticipating.
"Me and Joe (Schoen) talked and it just seemed like it was going to be the best thing to move on," Phillips said of the Giants GM. "I didn't know it was going to be here. It's nice because it's super close to home."
Phillips, who grew up in Wichita, KS and played for Oklahoma, has been around the NFL. The second-round pick of the Dolphins in 2015, Phillips has also had two stints with the Bills and played for the Cardinals. But even though he wasn't a Cowboys fan growing up, he definitely understands the different in playing with the star on his helmet.
"I'm just really excited to play for an organization like this," Phillips said. "It's different to be on a national stage like this, with the Cowboys."
And it doesn't hurt the Cowboys have a couple of elite rushers on the outside in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, who have seven Pro Bowls between them. Ironically enough, when Phillips first walked onto the Cowboys' practice field Thursday night after a light walk-through, he ended up striking up a conversation with two players - Parsons and Lawrence.
"It's going to be fun. Every D-line that I've ever been on has great edge rushers," Phillips said. "And I've always been that guy in the middle that can push the pocket and flush people to them. I'm excited to help them get some more sacks."
At a listed size of 6-6, 341, Phillips knows his job to fight through double-teams and stop the run. But he's no stranger to the quarterback sack himself. He's got 24 career sacks, including 9.5 in one season back in 2019.
In the last five seasons, Phillips is just one of 11 defensive tackles in the NFL to record more than nine sacks in a season.
Phillips will likely rotate with 2022 first-round pick Mazi Smith, and play next to other defensive tackles such as Osa Odighizuwa and perhaps Chauncey Golston, who also plays defensive end.
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The Cowboys will host 2024 "Cowboys Night," presented by American Airlines, at The Star in Frisco on Aug. 27-28. For more details visit www.DallasCowboys.com/TrainingCamp.
