The Giants have signed a multi-year deal with first-round pick Ereck Flowers, a left tackle out of Miami (Fla.) who will be counted on to make a major impact this season.
Flowers was picked ninth overall in this year's draft and is expected to open the season for the Giants at left tackle. Though he left Miami after only three years, Flowers has already shown confidence with life in the NFL, negotiating his own deal instead of working with an agent.
"It was great," Flowers told the Giants' official website of the contract process. "(I) talked to them. Got a great deal done. Everything went good. It was smooth."
The Giants announced the news in a press release on Thursday afternoon but did not disclose terms. Rookie deals typically run four years, but the amount of guaranteed money can vary (check out our first-round signing tracker). Pass rusher Vic Beasley, who was selected eighth overall by the Falcons -- one pick before Flowers -- signed a four-year $12.9 million deal with a $7.6 million signing bonus. Todd Gurley, who was picked No. 10 by the Rams, inked a four-year $13.82 million deal with a $8.31 million bonus.
Flowers fits into the Giants' committed approach to rebuilding their offensive line through the draft. Last year, the team took Weston Richburg in the second round, and in 2013 selected Justin Pugh in the first round.
Both Pugh and Richburg started from the first week of their rookie years, and Flowers is on track to do the same.
"I thought in a couple years he would be very good," offensive line coach Pat Flaherty said. "Well, that couple years now is September."
If Flowers does start at left tackle on September 13 against Dallas, he'll be a part of a new-look line after last year's unit struggled to protect Eli Manning. After playing left guard last year, Richburg has moved to center, his natural position, and Pugh has moved to left guard after working last season at right tackle. Still, the offensive line looms as a major question in East Rutherford, and both Pugh and Richburg struggled early in their rookie seasons.
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