Eli Manning was not the only problem the New York Giants had in 2018, but the veteran quarterback’s play at times certainly held them back. Unfortunately, it does not sound like the team is going to have many better options to start next season.
Giants general manager Dave Gettleman will speak with the media on Wednesday for the first time since the end of the season, and Paul Schwartz of the New York Post expects him to commit to bringing Manning back for the final year of his contract. New York has the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft and will be in position to draft a quarterback, but that does not mean they will want to rush a rookie along even if they go that route.
Manning turned 38 last month, so the Giants can easily say they are searching for his replacement while also claiming they remain confident in his abilities. Their offense as a whole has been brutal over the past two years, and Manning cannot bear all of the responsibility for that.
When Gettleman first took over as GM for the Giants last year, he said what he had seen on film from Manning assured him that the two-time Super Bowl champion can still get the job done. His endorsement wasn’t quite as strong last month. Even if Manning is back under center in Week 1, there’s a good chance it won’t remain that way for the entire 2019 season.
