Detroit Lions 2015 Draft Options at Offensive Tackle
By Kent Platte
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Originally in my rankings all the way down at 25th overall, Ereck Flowers has been graded as low as a third rounder and as high as a top 10 pick in the 2015 draft. I now tend to fall into the latter category, as it is really hard for me to find a clear flaw in Flowers’ game. One of the only true left tackle types in this draft, Flowers stands out in both pass and run blocking, with only minor flaws in both.
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Flowers isn’t the athlete that T.J. Clemmings is, nor is he as technically sound as Ty Sambrailo. He is much more athletic than most of the tackles in this class, however, and he’s more technically sound than probably all but Sambrailo. Of the tackles I evaluated, Flowers was the ONLY player that could kickslide without looking like their feet were made of stone, making him likely the only one I’d be comfortable starting from day one.
He isn’t a flawless prospect, however, and there aren’t any tackles in this class that are. For Flowers, his biggest issue appears to be his field awareness. His timing off the snap is inconsistent and I’d like to see him manage creative blitzes better. An odd quirk that will likely come up during draft evaluations is his seeming inability to cut block with any success. That’s not enough to keep him from being my top tackle in this draft, though it’s still early in the season.
Next: T.J. Clemmings