Three veteran left tackles hit the market the last two days, and Giants fans have taken notice.

Most fans desire an 'Anybody but Ereck Flowers' approach to Eli Manning's blindside. They want general manager Jerry Reese to land a veteran tackle that facilitates the embattled Flowers' move to right tackle (or a less-likely shift to right guard), and the pool of prospective replacements has swelled recently.

The Jets declined to pick up Ryan Clady's option on Wednesday, and the Jaguars did the same with Kelvin Beachum. On Thursday, the Dolphins indicated they will move on from Branden Albert, although it's not clear whether they will cut or trade him. Those are big moves for a position that was looking rather thin in free agency.

On the surface, it's good news for the Giants. If they want to get a new left tackle - their plan is not clear right now; Ben McAdoo and Reese will be asked in two weeks at the combine - it helps to have options, which is what the market was previously lacking.

But if the options aren't all that attractive, does having them really matter? This is the evaluation the Giants have to make if they pursue a position change with Flowers.

Even if Flowers slides to another spot, someone has to play left tackle. In the absence of a more surefire improvement, it may be in the Giants' best interest to give Flowers, the No. 9-overall pick in 2015, one more shot at the position while upgrading the line elsewhere.

Here's a look at the situation:

The easy calls: Cincinnati's Andrew Whitworth, a soon-to-be free agent, would be a clear upgrade over Flowers. The same goes for Cleveland's Joe Thomas or San Francisco's Joe Staley, two potential trade targets, and Russell Okung, who the Giants looked at last year and should be released by Denver soon. If the Giants can get either of these four players, they should do it, provided the cost is not extreme.

Here's when it gets shaky: The other potential options available to the Giants have not been terribly productive of late and are older, have injury concerns, or both.

Albert, who had a whirlwind Thursday in which the Dolphins cut him and then reversed course due to reported trade interest, has missed six games the last two years. He had a 42.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in 2016, and The MMQB's Albert Breer opined he "may not be equipped to play [left tackle] anymore."

Beachum has missed 11 games the last two years and had a PFF grade of 44.3. Clady has missed 23 games the last two years (including the entire 2015 season) and he had a 47.2 PFF grade last season.

Minnesota's Matt Kalil, who is set to be a free agent, missed 14 games last season after having hip surgery. He had a incomplete 36.9 PFF grade in two games. His 2015 grade over a full season was much better - 68.4 - but that score would have had him as PFF's 47th-ranked tackle in 2016, right below the Giants' Marshall Newhouse.

Of note: All four players' 2016 PFF grades were lower than Flowers' 48.4. Clady was the top-ranked player of the quartet at No. 62 of 78 officially-marked tackles. Beachum was 63rd, Albert 65th. Kalil did not have enough games to qualify. Flowers was ranked 57th. Albert, Beachum and Clady all had stronger pass protection grades than Flowers.

The draft situation is not much better: Utah's Garett Bolles, Wisconsin's Ryan Ramczyk and Alabama's Cam Robinson all have concerns attached to their name. There's no guarantee they would be any more effective as a rookie at left tackle than Flowers.

The Giants have been there, done that with a rookie who should be on the right side, but extenuating circumstances have forced him to the left. Will Beatty's injury forced Flowers to play left tackle in 2015 before he was ready. In this scenario, Flowers' ineffectiveness would force another rookie to replace him there in 2017, likely before he's ready. It's not a great cycle to continue.

How does it shake out? One of three outcomes seems likely. The first possible solution is the simplest: The Giants get a player like Whitworth and move Flowers to right tackle. The second is also a sound choice: Add one of the second-tier tackles and have them compete with Flowers for the job. The best player in training camp wins the job. If the veteran wins the job, Flowers has not completely transitioned away from the position if the veteran gets hurt (which recent history suggests is a strong possibility).

The third outcome, though, is the one fans don't want to hear about, but they must consider. The Giants survey the landscape and come to the conclusion their best option is to make changes around Flowers (i.e. new right tackle, blocking tight end) and give him one more go at left tackle. Flowers made some progress in 2016, perhaps he can make a major leap in 2017. That would be an extremely optimistic stance for the Giants to take, but it may end up being the stance they feel they must have.

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James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.