What Does Future Hold For New York Giants Backup QB Ryan Nassib?

New York Giants backup QB Ryan Nassib is entering the final year of his rookie contract.  In brief stints on the field, he has demonstrated a demeanor and ability to be a starting quarterback. Come next off-season, should the Giants look to retain the Syracuse product or let another mid-round draft pick walk?

As any team who has seen their starting quarterback crumple to the ground can attest, a reliable backup quarterback is vital for a NFL team’s success. Just last year, the Cowboys, coming off a 12-4 record, lost their starting quarterback and were forced to start a myriad other cast-offs in a failed attempt to replace him. Fortunately for the Giants, since 2004, they have been unaffected by the injury bug afflicting their most important player.  Eli Manning has started 194 consecutive games including the playoffs, and after having off-season ankle surgery in 2014 and working on modeling his throwing motion after Major League pitchers, he still shows a yearning to get better and a durability rarely seen in such a violent sport.

Due to this, “2nd string quarterback” on the Giants roster has been a position reserved for players who know their place in the league and are content with holding a clipboard, throwing scout team in practice, and maybe even taking a kneel down at the end of games.

Ryan Nassib, the Giants’ fourth-round pick out of Syracuse in 2013 has come into the league and performed well as Eli Manning’s backup.  He has played effectively in the preseason, has shown to be a hard worker both on the field and in the film room, and even stepped in last year against the Minnesota Vikings to lead the Giants on a touchdown drive.  Other than this brief stint in garbage time last year, Nassib has only attempted 5 passes in his brief NFL career.

With his rookie contract expiring at the end of this year, fans and some in the media have begun to wonder what is next for the 26 year old quarterback.  Do the Giants retain him in the hopes that he is willing to stick around until Eli finally does retire? If, following another disappointing playoff-less season, do they retain him and show Eli the door? Do they attempt to trade him or let him hit the free agency market? A back-up quarterback is vastly important for every team except the Giants; so should the team with an aging quarterback let another draft pick walk or is there a future for the Syracuse alum? 

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As of right now, there is almost no clarity into Nassib’s potential as a starting NFL quarterback.  It could be argued that former coach, Tom Coughlin, could have given Nassib more time on the field, especially in light of the past three losing seasons. Going into his contract year, Nassib will be a gamble for teams yearning for  a potential starter because have mostly supplied Nassib with preseason reps.

Of course, Eli has praised him, as has new QB coach Frank Cignetti Jr.  From NJ.com, Cignetti has said he has “a great future ahead of him,” which is constructive praise but also to be expected from a coach on the same team.  And Nassib has looked extremely good; coming into the Minnesota game, his arm looked lively, the ball popped out of his hand and he demonstrated a command of the offense. But that game experience consisted of only one series.

Honestly, that game, he looked more composed than Eli, which only feeds into incoherent debates in the world of fandom about “giving the kid a chance.” Of course that is not happening anytime soon as Manning still has three years left on his contract, but giving Nassib meaningful in-game reps at least allows for reasonable discussion about his potential as a starter within the next two years.

Ryan Leaf has looked good for a series, Matt Flynn has looked great for a game, and Derek Anderson made a Pro Bowl.  None are close to starting caliber quarterbacks, and anointing a backup, especially with a multiple Super Bowl winner ahead of him is asinine.

But, retaining him with the mindset that he will be the starter in the near future would appear to be an important decision for the Giants at this point.  Maybe their insistence for keeping him off the field is a strategy to retain him, but the more Nassib sits around and the more desperate teams get, the less likely it will be that he signs a second contract with Big Blue.

The Giants are obviously in a difficult spot; two Super Bowl wins during Eli’s career, but only one playoff appearance since 2009.  A promising quarterback displayed in an extremely limited capacity, in a league that now views Mark Sanchez as a capable starter.  There is no doubt that Nassib will garner attention next off-season.  But for the Giants, the potential remains that they could not only miss out on a young, mobile quarterback with a strong arm, they might also get close to nothing if he makes the decision to leave the team.  There is no reason for the Giants to look at anyone but Manning as their quarterback, just as there is no reason for a promising player to continue riding the pine behind him.

If next off-season comes and Manning is coming off another 4000 yard, 30 touchdown season, but has again failed to lead the Giants to the playoffs, the Giants may be the leading candidates in signing Nassib to a multi-year deal.  Winning must come before past achievements and especially year-to-year statistics.

In Nassib, they have a proven worker who has studied under Manning for at least four years.  When it comes down to records, there is not much difference between a 4-12 season and a 6-10 season.  Another losing season under Manning may force the Giant’s hand in not only retaining Nassib, but looking at him as their next starting quarterback.  With the money spent and pieces in place, the future is now for the Giants, and the owners are running out of pieces to replace.  Two years is a lifetime for a NFL player, but come 2018, Ryan Nassib could find himself as a starting quarterback, possibly even for the Giants.