Ereck Flowers is in full bloom.
Eighteen months after he was cut by the Giants and declared a major draft bust, Flowers signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Dolphins, according to multiple reports. The Dolphins entered the start of free agency flush with the most salary cap space in the NFL (more than $90 million) and gave $19 million guaranteed to Flowers.
Flowers, 25, turned around his career last season after switching from tackle to guard and played well under offensive line guru Bill Callahan for the Redskins. The Dolphins are banking on Flowers’ growth continuing with a new coaching staff but finally settled in at a position.
Originally drafted ninth overall in 2015, Flowers flopped in 48 career games with the Giants and became a lightning rod for criticism by fans and former players. He harbors ill will for the entire experience, which ended when he was benched and then cut in the first month of the 2018 season, after a failed switch from left tackle to right tackle.
Signing with the Dolphins brings the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Flowers back to his roots. He played for the University of Miami.
The Dolphins are the fourth team for Flowers, who went from the Giants to the Jaguars in 2018. He settled for a one-year, $3.25 million contract last offseason.
What a difference one season made in terms of Flowers’ market.