New York Giants: Analyzing the first-round pick

A year after drafting a playmaker in the first round (Odell Beckham Jr.), the New York Giants opted to go with a player who will protect the quarterback delivering the ball to that aforementioned playmaker.

For the third time in three years, the Giants have drafted an offensive lineman within the first two rounds. After drafting Justin Pugh in the first round of the 2013 draft, and Weston Richburg in the first round last year, the Giants drafted Ereck Flowers out of the University of Miami.

Although perhaps not the sexiest pick when players like Trae Waynes, Danny Shelton and Devante Parker were still available at the time, it’s hard to argue with the selection.

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The 6-6 Flowers is an enormous human being, and his presence is an immediate improvement for the Giants offensive line. Flowers is remarkably athletic for a man of his size, and he’s a beast in the run game. The Miami native faced some tough competition in his career at The U, facing edge rushers such as Randy Gregory, Eli Harold and Dante Fowler Jr.

He might not be ready to start at left tackle right away, but his size will make him an absolute force on the right side of the line.

The idea is probably to bump Flowers, who played left tackle at Miami, to the right side, which would effectively shift Justin Pugh to left guard.

Essentially, the Giants kill two birds with one stone by drafting Flowers.

“He was the highest guy on our board,” Reese said, according to Giants.com. “That was an easy pick for us … There was a combination of need and value. He’s going to be a terrific player. There’s all upside for him”

The physical specimen who will be wearing Giants blue next year also received high praise from the team’s head coach.

“Well, we’re excited about Ereck Flowers,” head coach Tom Coughlin said, according to Giants.com. “The kid’s an outstanding athlete. He’s very young, as you know. He’s a battleship, an aircraft carrier, or however you want to describe him … Strongest guy in the draft, outstanding feet.”

It’s no secret that the Giants needed to improve their offensive line. The team hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Ahmad Bradshaw barely toppled the mark back in 2012. Since then, the line has been re-shuffled and improved upon.

Last year, the Giants were able to do tremendous things through the air, finishing with the seventh-best passing offense, and the 10th-ranked total offense. The line wasn’t pretty last year, though, as guard John Jerry was consistently beat, which led to fans to nickname him “Turnstyle.”

Guard Geoff Schwartz was hurt for all but one full game last year, so his return will also give the unit a major boost. An offensive line consisting of (from left-to-right) Will Beatty, Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, Schwartz and Flowers will give the Giants the best unit they’ve had in a very, very long time.

Nov 2, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Duke Johnson (8) runs the ball while lead by offensive lineman Ereck Flowers (74) past Florida State Seminoles linebacker Telvin Smith (22) during the first half at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Flowers does need to work on some things, though, as every rookie does. He’s very wide with his hands when he blocks, and he’ll definitely get called for holding in the NFL if he doesn’t adapt. Foot quickness is also an area of improvement for Flowers, but he’ll be surrounded with seasoned players and a great coaching staff. The good news is that Flowers definitely has all of the physical tools necessary to succeed in the NFL. The former Hurricane is versatile, too, as he could probably move inside and play guard if need be.

Flowers is simply just a big, mean, nasty lineman who will manhandle some people on game day. Reese mentioned an interesting thing Flowers’ former coaches said about the behemoth.

“That’s (Flowers’ nastiness) one of the things when you talk to the coaches down there. It’s like this guy doesn’t take crap from anybody,” Reese said, according to Giants.com.

In the future, Flowers will probably move to left tackle whenever the Giants decide to move on from Will Beatty, though that time doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.

Flowers will have to earn a starting job, though. But it certainly seems like the team is expecting big things from their big new player. With the offensive line seemingly taken care of with the addition of the enormous Flowers, the Giants can now focus on finding more ways to get the football to “The New Sensation” Odell Beckham Jr.

Come Flowers’ first game, he’ll be ready to block hard and kick some ass.

Grade: B

Side notes:

* As a fan of the Miami Hurricanes, it’s hard for me to do anything but love this pick. Flowers is a big guy and he’ll give the offensive line a much-needed boost. A potential day-one starter.

* New York Daily News’ Ralph Vacchiano Tweeted that Coughlin spoke of a “desire to improve both our offensive and defensive lines in the draft.” It will be interesting if that little tidbit is a harbinger of things to come on day two.

* Notable player still available are S Landon Collins, DE Randy Gregory, OL La’el Collins, RBs Tevin Coleman and Duke Johnson and WRs Dorial Green-Beckham and Devin Smith. Out of those players, Collins and Smith are probably the most likely targets for the Giants in the second round. Look out for Eric Kendricks and Owamagbe Odighizuwa, too.

* I would love to see the Giants go Duke Johnson in the second round, and Denzel Perryman in the third, giving the G-Men three former ‘Canes.

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