Giants' Collins: Ereck Flowers upset with Nate Solder signing

New York Giants safety Landon Collins suggested offensive tackle Ereck Flowers is skipping voluntary team workouts because he resents the club for signing Nate Solder to replace him at left tackle.

"He's just unhappy that they picked up (Solder)," Collins told a local radio station Friday when asked about Flowers' absence, according to SNY. "That's it."

The Giants drafted Flowers ninth overall in 2015 to be Eli Manning's blindside protector, but he's struggled immensely to fill that role. As a result, New York shelled out major money to bring Solder away from the New England Patriots in free agency.

Flowers, therefore, will either change positions or be relegated to the bench if he remains on the roster in 2018. New York reportedly tried to trade him during the NFL draft, but no deal was made.

"Definitely, I would say he needs to be here, as a teammate and as a captain, because we need him here, need to get the line together so they can be on the same page," Collins said of Flowers. "We got a quarterback, we got a running back, we got these talented wide receivers, we got to run with this."

Collins, though, added Flowers "has to work harder" if he's to ever reach the potential the Giants saw in him when they drafted him.

Flowers had his fifth-year contract option declined by New York, meaning he'll become a free agent after the 2018 campaign.