NFL Trade Rumors: Giants trading Ereck Flowers is the only move
By Matt O'Leary
The New York Giants may be looking to part ways with their former first-round pick from 2015, Ereck Flowers, at this year’s draft.
Three years ago, the New York Giants selected Ereck Flowers ninth overall with the hopes of finding a franchise left tackle. Through his first three years in the league that certainly doesn’t look like it’s going to be the case.
Flowers has been mostly ineffective at the NFL level. So much so, the Giants elected to go out and overpay for Nate Solder signing him to a four-year $62 million deal to protect Eli Manning’s blind side.
The initial idea was to move Flowers over to the right side and see if he can be competent on the other side of the line. There may be a new idea for Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman now, who may look to trade him at some point over the draft weekend.
Flowers has not participated in the Giants offseason workouts, which isn’t the best way to get acquainted with his new G.M and coach.
Heading into year four, Flowers is set to make $2.4 million this year. The real jump in salary comes in year five if they use that option, which will cost the Giants $12.5 million if they elect to do that. A trade certainly makes sense but what kind of value does Flowers have at this time?
In 2017, Ereck Flowers was the 54th ranked OT by Pro Football Focus with a 51.5 grade on the season. He’s not the franchise player they expected him to be and with Flowers likely switching sides it would be a risk for whichever General Manager trades for him.
The one positive for Flowers is despite being in the league for three years already, he’s still just 23-years-old. Heading into his age 24 season, someone may take a flier on him.
If anything the Giants might be able to get anywhere between a fifth and seventh-rounder from someone. For argument sake, let’s say Gettleman is able to get a fifth rounder. That would leave the Giants with a first-round pick, one second, two thirds, a fourth and two fifth rounders.
For a team that is trying to rebuild you want to get as many picks as humanly possible. Take as many swings as possible in the NFL Draft, because you never know who will hit and who won’t and which mid to late round selection might turn into an NFL starter.
G.M. Dave Gettleman wasn’t the guy to draft Flowers, so he has nothing to lose by moving him. The Giants need help at o-line so even if they move Flowers don’t be surprised if they load up on offensive line prospects in this year’s draft.
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Luckily for the Giants, this is a deep draft at the offensive line position and they should be able to find some gems in the mid-rounds. Moving Flowers seems like the smart play here for the New York Giants.