Playing a new position for a new team has given Giants draft bust Ereck Flowers a new lease on life.

Flowers, released by the Giants on Oct. 9, 2018, will open the season as the Washington Redskins’ starting left guard.

That’s the same Flowers who allowed three sacks before getting benched prior to Week 3 against the Houston Texans last season and was graded out according to Pro Football Focus’ with a 62 pass blocking and 63.4 run blocking grade.

As he prepares for Sunday’s regular season opener against the Eagles, Flowers took aim at his critics in a recent interview with The Athletic.

“People don’t think for themselves,” Flowers said. “Everybody goes off what the next person says; you know what I mean? So it’s whatever to me. I’m just going out there and enjoying playing this game as long as I can play it. I’m just here to get better. I’m here to get better every day, and I’m going to get better every day and every game. It doesn’t bother me what people have to say.”

Last summer, the Giants installed Flowers as their starting right tackle after signing Nate Solder to play left tackle. It proved to be a mistake by general manager Dave Gettleman not to bring in a competent backup either via the draft or free agency last year.

To Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur’s credit, the team rectified the mistake by benching and later releasing him.

Buy Giants tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek

Flowers is hoping that a change of scenery within the NFC East and on game day will help him improve.

“little technical things here and there,” Flowers said was what he’s trying to get better with. “I haven’t perfected it, yet. But I’m a lot better from my first snap at guard, because I never ever played it, so I just want to keep getting better.”

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoNFL