New York Giants Expected To Select Quarterback In 2017 NFL Draft
The New York Giants have a star at quarterback in Eli Manning, but they may attempt to find his heir apparent in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The New York Giants are entering an offseason that will define the short and long-term future of the organization. With free agency all but completed, general manager Jerry Reese will be tasked with discovering the future stars of New York football.
Although a number of Giants fans are hoping this proves untrue, one of the primary tasks ahead of Reese is finding the heir apparent to quarterback Eli Manning.
Manning has been the face of the franchise for upwards of a decade, but he’s experienced a great deal of wear and tear during that time. Now 36 years of age, Manning is closer to the end of his career than he is the beginning of it.
According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the Giants are unlikely to utilize a first-round selection on a quarterback, but could find one in the middle rounds.
"The most likely scenario is the Giants grab a quarterback in the middle rounds, someone such as Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman, Virginia Tech’s Jarrod Evans or Tennessee’s Josh Dobbs."
If the Giants were to draft a quarterback, then it would be difficult to hold it against Reese for making such a commitment.
Manning is preparing for his 14th NFL season. He’s played every game since he became a starter in 2004, giving him 201 regular season and 12 postseason games of experience and, simply put, brutality endured.
Manning could conceivably come back with an exceptional year in 2017, but New York must be conscious of the future.
No matter how durable the Giants’ star quarterback may be, father time is undefeated and Manning is closer to 40 years of age than he is 30.
New York has been linked to a number of quarterbacks during the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. One of the most prominent players is Patrick Pahomes III, although Raanan reports that the likes of Josh Dobbs, Jerod Evans, and Nathan Peterman are more likely targets.
Regardless of whom the Giants opt to draft, the feeling in the front office appears to be that the best course of action would be to prepare for the future.
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Popular or otherwise, that means the New York Giants will likely be drafting a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft.