Ereck Flowers, New York Giants
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

After failing to attend the New York Giants OTAs, it has been reported that the Giants tried to trade Ereck Flowers during the draft last week.

When the New York Giants took left tackle Ereck Flowers ninth overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, they hoped that he would protect Eli Manning’s blindside and help anchor the offensive line for years.

That hasn’t happened and, as a result, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the team tried—unsucessfully—to trade Flowers during the 2018 NFL Draft.

Flowers’ tenure with Big Blue has been an absolute disaster. He’s struggled mightily against quick edge rushers, had costly penalties, and has been the scapegoat for the Giants’ offensive woes, like not scoring 30 points since the 2015 season finale against the Eagles.

There was also an incident in 2016 when he shoved a reporter in the locker room. Of course, not showing up for OTAs this year didn’t help his case to stick with Big Blue.

One of general manager Dave Gettleman’s priorities this offseason was to upgrade the left tackle position and they did so in signing Nate Solder to a four-year, $62 million contract.

With Solder now at left tackle, the Giants plan was to move Flowers to right tackle in hopes that the transition could benefit him since most elite pass rushers are lined up on the other side of the line.

But Flowers was the only Giant not to attend OTAs, which did not sit well with Gettleman, who spoke about this last week.

“He’s in Miami, and we’re here. He decided not to come. He’s an adult,” Gettleman told reporters during the draft over the weekend, per Raanan. “He has the ability to make decisions on his own. This is a voluntary program and he’s decided to stay in Miami. If you want to know why he’s not here, call him.”

Flowers celebrated his 24th birthday last week. Now that he’s older and entering the final year of his contract, the Giants were hopeful that he would make wiser decisions. But as of right now, that has not happened.

Still, since he’s guaranteed $2.4 million this season and the team was unable to move him, Flowers will likely be on the team in 2018.

Hopefully, the relationship between Flowers and the Giants improves before players have to report to training camp in July. Otherwise, the mission that Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur are on to improve the locker room, which was chaotic at times in 2017, could be impossible to finish.

Jason's first love was football while growing up in northern New Jersey. For the past three years, he has covered the New York Giants, as well as several boxing events along the East Coast.