New York Giants: Time to plan for the future

After losing their fifth consecutive game to start the season, it’s time for the New York Giants to hit the reset button.

The New York Giants find themselves at somewhat of a crossroads.

Having lost six straight games dating back to last season’s playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, the team is dangerously close to complete disarray.

Cornerbacks Eli Apple and Janoris Jenkins created a buzz following Sunday’s game, as one took a shot at head coach Ben McAdoo and the other headed to the locker room early.

When McAdoo confirmed today that star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. was lost for the season with a fractured ankle, the situation became bleaker.

So what’s next? The season obviously has not gone according to plan.

During OTAs, the Giants were thinking undefeated season. Now, heading into week six, they hope to simply get into the win column.

But battling injuries and a fragile locker room, McAdoo is going to have to pull off a miracle to beat the Denver Broncos on the road next week.

Then the Giants get the Seattle Seahawks, a bye, the Los Angeles Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers.

It could be another month before the Giants get a win.

With that being said, it’s time to cut losses and build toward a brighter future.

Here are three things Big Blue should focus on before the season is lost completely:

Don’t Rush Back Veterans

The team is decimated by injuries heading into week six.

Rest those who have battled injuries all season – Weston Richburg, Brandon Marshall, Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul and Janoris Jenkins.

There’s no reason to rush these guys back anymore; let them take their time.

Instead, play the young players and evaluate the talent on the roster going into next season and beyond.

New York Giants

It’s not worth jeopardizing the health of the franchise’s stars in exchange for a few extra wins.

Additionally, the Giants should start weighing contract decisions.

The situation with Beckham just got a whole lot trickier – but that’s a story for another day. Players like Devon Kennard, Justin Pugh, and Jay Bromley will all be looking to get paid.

Secure a Top 5 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft

Here’s where the controversial term “tanking” comes into play.

No, the Giants shouldn’t tank. It’s too early in the season to consider that.

But when you share the worst record in the NFL at 0-5 with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, it’s tough to ignore draft position.

Now, the New York Giants are still searching for Eli Manning’s successor.

Despite drafting Davis Webb in the third round of last year’s draft, it’d be a crime for GM Jerry Reese (assuming he’s still here) to pass on one of the top flight quarterbacks expected to declare for the NFL.

It doesn’t have to be a quarterback, either. Maybe the Giants can find that left tackle they so desperately need.

At the very least, position the team to land a cornerstone piece or trade down for a king’s ransom.

Reevaluate the direction of the franchise

John Mara needs to take a step back at the end of the season and look at the bigger picture.

With a quarterback entering the twilight of his career and a “win now” built team, the window is closing – fast.

Are McAdoo and Reese the right personnel to steer the ship?

Both had an opportunity to prove their status within the organization this offseason and failed.

McAdoo hasn’t fixed the offensive struggles and Reese ignored the team’s biggest need in the offensive line.

This could be a franchise altering offseason similar to the one in 2004, when the Giants selected a quarterback at the top of the draft with a new head coach.