The Giants are guaranteed a top-three draft choice in 2018, and they could well be in position to land their next franchise quarterback — just as they did the last time they ended up in the top five of a draft.
However, Eli Manning still has two years remaining on his contract and was reinstated as the starter despite being benched this season. And the soon-to-be 37-year-old passer does not want to leave, despite the Giants being set to finish with either a 2-14 or 3-13 record and further away from a playoff run than some other teams with quarterback needs.
“This is what I love to do. I love playing football; I love playing quarterback, and I want to continue to do it for the Giants,” Manning said during a WFAN radio interview (via Tom Rock of Newsday). “This is the only team I ever wanted to play for and I don’t want to change.
“I do understand how this season has gone and new people [are] coming in. If they want to make a change, then we’ll go down that road.”
This follows John Mara‘s comments about wanting Manning to stay with the team. However, the owner did not guarantee that when asked about the subject earlier this month. Manning is due to carry a $22.2MM cap number in 2018, and he’s in line for a $5MM roster bonus on the third day of the ensuing league year.
But Manning does want to play a 15th NFL season, even if it’s not with New York. The Tom Coughlin-overseen Jaguars have been mentioned by GMs as the most obvious suitor in case the Giants want to make a change.
“If they decide to move on … I don’t feel I’m ready to retire,” Manning said (via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post). “I feel I can still play at a high level and compete and make plays and love what I’m doing. I think I still have good football in me. I don’t want to stop playing football. This is all I want to do. I don’t have a backup plan; I don’t have something I’m looking forward to doing when this is done.”
Manning staying could well mean he’s the gatekeeper in front of Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold, should the Pac-12 quarterbacks declare for the draft. And that’s a situation from which he won’t shy away, he said. Manning was not given the Giants’ starting job in Week 1 of his first season; Kurt Warner began the 2004 season as the starter before Manning took over midseason and began his historic start streak.
“Whether they think Davis Webb is the quarterback or they get a quarterback and there’s competition, I can compete,” he said. “I don’t mind competition. I think that’s always part of it; you’re trying to compete for the starting job and get better. I do want to play.
“I don’t know how many more years I do have but I do think I can play at a high level and while I can, I want to be out there.”
Might as well hang on to him another year, whether a second year Webb or rookie is on the roster next year, he’s still the best option at QB for NYG for now.
Daddy Archie is going to make the Giants trade Eli to the Chargers for Rivers and complete the circle.