The New York Giants added a first-rounder looking to turn his career around when they signed offensive lineman D.J. Fluker on Friday.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network initially reported the news. Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday reported the one-year contract is worth $3 million.
This comes after Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the Los Angeles Chargers released the versatile offensive lineman who can play tackle or guard.
Fluker entered the league as the No. 11 overall pick in 2013 and started 31 games at tackle in his first two seasons. He moved to right guard in 2015 and 2016 and can theoretically plug holes almost anywhere along the offensive line.
What's more, he is only 25 years old and should be entering his prime.
On the surface, Fluker seems like a sure bet to help, but Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of just 63.7 on its free-agency tracker, a number that's far below a number of available offensive guards. Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus noted he "has allowed 2.5 pressures per game at RG and 3.2 per game at RT. But run blocking was worse at G. I mean, ugh."
Football Outsiders rated the Chargers as the 23rd-best run-blocking unit and 24th-best pass-blocking unit in the league in 2016. The fact Los Angeles chose not to bring him back to a line that isn't exactly loaded with talent sends a message to the rest of the league.
At this point, Fluker's first-round status and hope that a change of scenery will spark his reclamation is about all the Giants have to go on other than his youth and ability to play multiple positions. Versatility is nice, but only if it is productive.
He joins a Giants offensive line that Football Outsiders ranked as the 24th-best run-blocking unit in the league in 2016. New York still managed to finish 11-5 and reach the playoffs, but a better performance up front could have allowed it to catch the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East and make a more serious run toward the Super Bowl.
If Fluker can rediscover the form that made him a first-round pick inside a talented offense, he can turn his career around and bolster a Giants offensive line that needs a better showing for the team to develop into a legitimate title contender.