The Giants are willing to wait on a potential Eli Manning extension until after his contract expires following the 2015 campaign, two sources told ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Manning and the Giants are not making much progress on what would be his second contract extension, per Graziano. The team kept a close eye on the Steelers’ re-signing of Ben Roethlisberger, who’s on the same timeline with Manning as a member of the loaded 2004 quarterback class, but believe Manning will ask for more than the $99MM Roethlisberger received over five years.
The Giants want the 34-year-old Manning to finish his career in New Jersey but aren’t willing to make that kind of commitment right now, according to Graziano. They could save more than $10MM on this year’s salary cap by doing a Manning extension, but most of the noteworthy free agents are already off the market, diminishing the impact of such a maneuver.
After signing a six-year, $97MM deal in 2009, Manning made Pro Bowls in 2011 and 2012 and rebounded from a down 2013 with a career-high 63% completion rate last season under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Manning’s cap number is $19.75MM this season, which exceeds all other Giants by more than $5MM.
Graziano does not believe Manning and the Giants will come to an agreement this offseason, considering the current sides’ stances but adds the Giants, with two 21st-century Super Bowls in tow in large part due to Manning’s playoff performances, won’t have an issue paying Manning on par with the league’s elite QBs despite the former No. 1 overall pick not having the individual accolades that group does.