New York Giants: Top 10 players who need to step up in 2018
By Henry Buggy
#2 – Ereck Flowers
The top two players on this list should come as no surprise. The Giants have needed Ereck Flowers to step up every year since taking him No. 9 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. He has yet to do so.
Gettleman inked Nate Solder to a massive four-year, $62 million contract due to Flowers’ ineptitude at left tackle. He then elected not to pick up Flowers’ fifth-year option on his rookie contract this offseason.
Both moves made plenty of sense given Flowers’ play. But the Giants are still giving Flowers a chance to set himself up for free agency in 2019. Shurmur defended the 24-year-old offensive tackle after Collins spoke publicly about his absence from the team’s voluntary offseason workout program.
The Giants have given Flowers no shortage of opportunities. Reese’s blind faith in Flowers’ development played a significant role in his dismissal. The Giants new regime is now giving Flowers another chance, this time at right tackle.
His top competition for the starting right tackle role is Chad Wheeler. The Giants will need whoever fills the job to step up. Flowers shouldn’t need any more motivation. He is now entering a contract year and is arguably New York’s most criticized player.
A quick turnaround for the Giants may hinge on the play of the right side of their offensive line. Solder and Hernandez are expected to lock down the left side. It’s the play of Omameh and Flowers that has most Big Blue fans concerned.