One of the more pleasant surprises of the 2021 NFL season for the Washington Football Team is the play of left guard Ereck Flowers.
Flowers, who Washington acquired via trade just before the 2021 NFL draft, spent the 2019 season in Washington after failing to live up to expectations as a former top-10 pick of the New York Giants.
Giants’ fans laughed at Washington for signing Flowers in 2019. However, Flowers was no longer an offensive tackle, as former WFT offensive line coach Bill Callahan moved him inside to guard, where he thrived. Flowers played so well in 2019; he earned a lucrative three-year deal with his hometown Miami Dolphins, in 2020.
Things didn’t work out with the Dolphins, so Washington shrewdly traded for Flowers in the offseason. Back at left guard, Flowers is having the best season of his NFL career.
Not only is Flowers reliable, but he is a dominant run blocker in offensive coordinator Scott Turner’s offense. After Sunday’s win over the Panthers, former NFL offensive lineman and current analyst Brian Baldinger reviewed the film and came away impressed with Flowers.
.@WashingtonNFL @Eflow_74 lead the charge Sunday. I had real flashbacks to the days of the Hogs and real supremacy in the NFC East. This was a good old fashioned “woodshed game” This NFC East is gonna get fun from top to bottom. Don’t crown champs in NOV! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/hsafGghi3o
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 22, 2021
Yes, he said The Hogs.
Baldinger wasn’t finished lavishing praise on Flowers.
.@WashingtonNFL @Eflow_74 was this Flowers or Grimm at LG for the WFT Sunday. One of the best games I have watched EFlow play. This is #Hogs2.0. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/bxxdhyfHdb
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 22, 2021
While Flowers has a long way to go to be compared to Hall-of-Fame guard Russ Grimm, there’s no denying he’s at home with Washington. Over the last two weeks, Flowers has been a key cog in Washington’s dominant run-blocking unit.
If Flowers can keep up his current level of play, perhaps he can earn his first Pro Bowl nod. Sadly, he’ll likely never be considered because some people will only remember his tenure in New York. And, if recent history is any indication, most offensive linemen struggle when the Giants draft them.