Giants take Ereck Flowers with 9th overall pick in NFL draft

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Giants have selected Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers with the ninth overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night.

Flowers is a huge, nasty player who excels in in pass protection, something bound to give Eli Manning more time to throw to Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz.

The selection should allow the Giants to move Justin Pugh inside to guard, although line coach Pat Flaherty wants all his linemen to be able to play all the positions.

The Giants (6-10) have missed the playoffs the past three seasons and have not been close the past two seasons.

New York still needs to find a defensive tackle and a linebacker later in the draft but the offensive line was the prime consideration heading into the draft.

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