New York Giants: which 2015 draft pick has biggest impact?

Jun 16, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tackle Ereck Flowers (76) takes part in practice during minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Ryan-USA TODAY Sports

Ereck Flowers

Here’s my thought on Flowers: he will have the biggest impact of any Giants draft pick this year. Not exactly going out on a limb… but it is saying something since Landon Collins is expected to be the team’s best safety and Owa Odighizuwa may get a few sacks if the d-line catches the injury bug.

The Giants are just so thin up front they will really count on Flowers. And with Will Beatty hurt, he may end up starting at the second-most important position on offense to begin the season. But whether he lines up on the left or right side, Flowers’ impact will be huge (and hopefully positive), and his performance will certainly play a part in how far the Giants advance this season.

What do I expect? Well, I hope he’s the right tackle. And I think the Giants do too. Still a very important position, but he won’t have as much pressure on him as he would at left tackle. If he starts at left tackle and lets up three or four sacks in the first two games of the season, people will call him out quickly, and his confidence could be shot.

I do expect the Giants to start him at left tackle because he has the most natural talent of any of their tackles. And I think they would only do it if they feel he’s ready because they don’t want to shake his confidence. I’m not expecting an All-Pro performance, but I think he’ll be a mid-level left tackle to start with some strong run-blocking ability. His footwork in pass protection is a bit raw, but something they can work with.

Next: Landon Collins