If the New York Giants are willing to spend the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft on a quarterback, we can guarantee that Eli Manning will enjoy his final season this year. Success could be hard to come by with the defense lacking key pieces in several positions, but the offense seems to be built through despite lacking a true wideout.
Rebuilding the offensive line offers Manning a chance to perform at a high level after years of mediocre play behind a lackluster line. Adding Nate Solder and Will Hernandez in 2018 and trading for Kevin Zeitler this offseason should provide optimism. The last position in need of an upgrade is right tackle where Chad Wheeler is currently the slotted starter.
Manning has gone years without foundational protection, and it might be too late into his twilight years to extract the quality he was capable of.
The New York Giants have a tough decision to make:
The upcoming draft is stacked with defensive talent, especially at pass-rusher. The Giants would be smart to allocate their top pick towards the defensive line, but the succession of Manning looms over their heads. Options like Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Drew Lock could all be available at No. 6, making the selection high risk.
The 2019 crop of quarterbacks isn’t one of the more prominent ones, which favors the idea of a defensive draft pick. However, it requires the Giants to think about using the 17th pick on a passer like Daniel Jones, or even Lock if available. Keeping Manning could be a decent insurance policy, though, just in case the young option doesn’t work out.
Manning could stay on the Giants as a backup?
It’s possible that the Giants keep Manning on the roster after his expected succession in 2020 as a backup option. He has made it clear that he doesn’t want to play if he’s not going to play the entire game – via the Geno Smith debacle in 2017. His pride could force him to retire rather than play second fiddle, but why not collect a nice paycheck and sit back while his heir claims the throne?