NFC Notes: Giants, Saints, Vikings

Giants

• Ralph Vacchiano of the SNY confirms reports that the Giants are looking to trade OL Ereck Flowers, and notes that this would save New York $2.4 million in cap space and create $2.1 million in dead money.
• The Giants do not expect a large market for Flowers and hope to find a trade partner during the 2018 NFL Draft night with the compensation being a third-day or a future draft pick.
• Flowers has been a no-show to voluntary workouts this month, while new Giants HC Pat Shurmur is not pleased with his absence: “He’s not here, so there’s not really much to say… We understand that this is a program that’s voluntary. I tend to believe it’s very necessary.”

Saints

• Saints HC Sean Payton said that the team is preparing to pick at No. 27 instead of trading up or down the draft: “We’re preparing to pick at 27 and looking closely at who that grouping of players is going to be.” (Josh Katzenstein)
• Payton said newly signed WR Cameron Meredith (ACL) “could be on track” with his recovery and participate in minicamp workouts. (Josh Katzenstein)
• Regarding the team’s needs going into the NFL Draft, Payton mentioned defensive rusher, a sixth offensive lineman, a tight end, and linebacker as spots to address. (Joel Erickson)

Vikings

Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman said that RB Dalvin Cook has “knocked the rehab out of the park” from his torn ACL from last year and is hopeful that Cook will be fully recovered in time for training camp.

“Really, Dalvin’s knocked the rehab out of the park,” Sugarman said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “He’s done a great job. He’s been here every day since the injury occurred post-surgery. … He’ll participate in (organized team activities and minicamp) on a limited basis. … Then the plan is for him, hopefully when he gets to training camp … he’ll be a participant just like everybody else.”

Cook added that he aggressively worked through his rehab and made sure to begin working out when he was completely comfortable with his knee.

“You’ve got to trust yourself and know that you did everything in your power to get your knee back to where it’s at,” Cook said. “I attacked this thing every day, and I did what I needed to do to get to this point, so I had no doubt when I first touched the field that it was where I wanted to be at.

• Vikings DE Everson Griffen said he is recovering from a “completely torn” plantar fasciitis and is excited to return: “I tore it Week (8 vs. Cleveland), so I played the whole rest of the season, it bothered me… I completely tore mine. It’s doing great (now). I feel good. I’m excited to be back here.” (Chris Tomasson)