Let's Talk About Eli Manning And The Giants Drafting A Quarterback
The hardest emotional moment for a franchise and their fans is replacing a legend. And while other NFL fans might scoff at it given his propensity for throwing picks and making faces like a six year-old who just dropped his chicken nuggets on the floor, that’s exactly what Eli Manning is to Giants fans. But a lot of those same fans think it’s time to start thinking of replacing him.
Eli is by-far-and-away the Giants franchise all-time leader in yards, completions and touchdowns. He’s a two-time Super Bowl winner and MVP, the first of which is the single greatest moment in franchise history. He’s never missed a career start. He is by any calculation a top-three most important player in Giants franchise history (the other two are Lawrence Taylor and Michael Strahan). While other fans might think of him as a laughingstock and he’ll probably be the most controversial Hall of Fame selection ever, to Giants fans he is immortal. I can honestly say I love and treasure Eli Manning more than 94% of the friendships and relationships I have in my life, and I say that proudly.
But he’s also 36 years old, with two years left on his current contract and coming off one of the worst seasons of his career (pretty good playoff performance against Green Bay notwithstanding). That’s why so many people are calling into WFAN and media people are talking about if the Giants should think about nabbing an heir apparent in the draft to learn under his tutelage. With Deshaun Watson, Deshone Kizer, Patrick Mahomes and Caleb Pressley’s friend all declared, it would seem to make sense. It really doesn’t.
First off, Eli has never missed a career start and has two more years left on his deal. I have no reason to think he won’t be suiting up for each and every one of them, so anyone you draft is going to be a long-term project. Trubisky and Watson are both going to be gone by the time the Giants pick at #23 and Jerry Reese hasn’t traded up in the first round in 10 years. So they’re out. Patrick Mahomes has an absolute cannon for an arm, but I’m always skeptical of these workout warrior players have an awesome combine and their draft stock shoots up two rounds without having played an actual football game. The fact Kizer’s own coach is cagey about his NFL prospects in interviews is the biggest of red flags, even with how prodigiously huge of an asshole Brian Kelly might be.
The Giants have at least two years to find Eli’s replacement, and maybe even longer than that. Even the most irrational of fan of his (like me) can admit Eli has never been in the Brady/Peyton/Rodgers tier of quarterback superstardom, but with one of the most talented receiving corps in the NFL next one, he doesn’t have to be. The Giants are built to be a Super Bowl contender for the next few years, and Eli has proven he can be the guy to get us there. I don’t understand why so many fans are willing to make a panic move to replace one of the best players we’ve ever had before he has shown signs of true physical regression. The Giants are smart to plan for the post-Eli era, but there’s no need to rush it and wildly pick the first person you can find like a college kid trying to bring someone home at bar close. Wait for the perfect candidate to entrust the franchise future with. When the Giants find Mr. Right to someday take the reigns to throw downfield lobs to Odell and make miraculous Super Bowl runs, that’s when you pull the trigger. And hopefully the need for that doesn’t come for a long time.
Twitter is @CharlieWisco