NFL Draft 2015 grades: New York Giants select Ereck Flowers

With the ninth-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected University of Miami (FL) offensive tackle Ereck Flowers. Flowers is the highest-rated tackle on many draft boards, boosted by the unfrotunate circumstances surrounding La’el Collins.

Grade: B+

Flowers is a mountain of a man at 6’6 and 330 pounds. He is a perfect fit for Tom Coughlin’s offense, which does not require a ton of pulling. Coughlin’s teams have always run more of a power scheme, something that running back Rashad Jennings was brought in to thrive inside of last year.

With former first-round pick Justin Pugh also on the front, Flowers gives the Giants more beef in the trenches. Eli Manning is getting older and has never been a very mobile quarterback, so getting extra protection for him was vital. With a receiving core of Odell Beckham Jr., Rueben Randle and Victor Cruz, New York could be extremely potent with the offensive line holding up.

The Giants still need to address the defensive front seven, with only Jason Pierre-Paul standing out as an impact player. In the second round, New York could try to pick up an inside linebacker to learn alongside Jon Beason, potentially looking at Denzel Perryman, Paul Dawson or Eric Kendricks.

Ultimately, Flowers is a top prospect and a nice pick for Big Blue nation.