Ereck

Flowers Sr.

The move saves $10 million against the cap but leaves Washington with yet another hole at guard after RG Brandon Scherff bolted in free agency. Flowers has never been a high-end starter, but he can offer around league average play at several positions. He should find a new home quickly.

The Dolphins jettison Flowers -- a complete bust since being drafted as a first rounder in 2015 -- a year after signing him to a three-year, $30 million deal, with nearly $20 million guaranteed. As part of the deal, Flowers’ contract was restructured to have Miami pay his $6 million signing bonus this year and Washington foot the bill for his $3 million base salary. Flowers’ conditioning was a major issue for the Dolphins early last season, and the veteran spent time on the COVID-19 list. After playing 16 games in the 2019 season in Washington, Flowers will rejoin a solid offensive line a year after allowing five sacks and being graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s 100th best offensive lineman.

It’s a hopeful sign after a rash of positive tests when players arrives to training camp. Packers K Mason Crosby and Dolphins OL Ereck Flowers were two of the six players removed from the list today. We’ll see if the league’s positive tests remain low once teams start traveling for regular season games.

It’s an inauspicious Dolphins start for the $30 million free agent, though he still has weeks to get cleared for Week 1. Flowers’ conditioning could certainly be an early-season issue, however. Flowers is a big part of the Dolphins’ plan to turn around their laughably bad 2019 run blocking.

The deal reportedly includes $19.95 million guaranteed. A titanic bust since entering the league as the No. 9 overall pick of the 2015 draft, Flowers partially rehabbed his value with the Redskins last season but not to the degree that he should be getting $20 million guaranteed. The Dolphins must adore what they saw on tape. Flowers is still arguably an upgrade for a line that ranked 32nd and 29th, respectively, in adjusted line yards per rush and adjusted sack rate (Football Outsiders) last season, but this has the feel of a massive overpay.

The Redskins have been in talks to re-sign Flowers, but he may price himself out of Washington with that asking price. A bust his first five seasons, Flowers rehabbed his value in 2019, allowing just two sacks in 937 snaps. Still just 25, Flowers is one of the better interior lineman available this offseason. He’ll have no shortage of suitors if he reaches the open market.

Coach Ron Rivera has publicly stated his intentions on bringing back both Brandon Scherff and Flowers this offseason — the easiest path to take now that LT Trent Williams has begun shopping his services elsewhere. Finlay also reported that Flowers is expected to ask for more than double his 2019 salary of $3.25 million, which is an amount that’s easily achievable for the organization if Scherff is dealt the franchise tag. The Redskins have clearly prioritized their own offensive linemen among this free agent class.

On top of the trade talks surrounding LT Trent Williams, Washington is dealing with two impending free agent guards in Scherff and Flowers. The Redskins can place the franchise tag on Scherff if they can’t come to an agreement right away, but he doesn’t want to play without a long-term deal. Keeping Flowers around for next season may be more difficult. NBC Sports’ JP Finlay expects Flowers to ask for more than double his 2019 salary of $3.25 million, a number that could reasonably be met if he hits the open market. Look for the Redskins to make offers to their guards before free agency begins later this month.

Insert Michael Scott “No god, no god no” GIF. With Williams—a seven-time Pro Bowler—holding out from Redskins camp, Washington will now turn to draft bust Ereck Flowers, a failed first-round experiment who flamed out of New York in spectacular fashion before latching on with Jacksonville midway through last season. A below-average player by nearly every metric, the prospect of Flowers protecting Dwayne Haskins’ blind side has to be a sobering thought for the Redskins. It’s unclear if Washington’s deteriorating relationship with Williams is beyond repair, but downgrading to Flowers at left tackle should be reason enough for the Redskins to try and mend fences.

Flowers got some reps at guard during offseason workouts. Assuming Trent Williams reports for training camp, Flowers will kick inside and looks like the frontrunner to start. The Redskins quarterback situation is unsettled, but their offensive line should be a strong point.