Eli Manning may be returning to the starting lineup in Week 14, but that doesn’t mean Big Blue won’t be taking a quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The New York Giants still need to see what they have in rookie quarterback Davis Webb before season’s end, but the fact that he’s been inactive for all 12 games so far this season does not bode well for his future in the Big Apple.
If the G-Men elect to select a quarterback with a top five pick in the 2018 Draft, it will likely lead to a permanent backup designation for Webb during his time with Big Blue. The Giants decision to reinstate their two-time Super Bowl MVP as the starter could allow the franchise to move forward with Manning and Webb for at least another season, which would allow New York’s next general manager the opportunity to rebuild the team’s offensive line and backfield first.
The main issue with taking that route is that there is no guarantee the Giants will be able to take a quarterback with a top five selection in the coming years. The G-Men currently hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft, and the Giants have not had a top five pick since they selected Philip Rivers and traded him for Manning in the 2004 draft.
A Smart QB Draft Philosophy
Detroit Lions general manager and former New England Patriots director of pro scouting Bob Quinn shed light on the importance of selecting a quarterback in the draft back when he joined the Detroit franchise in 2016, via the Detriot Free Press.
"“I think it’s really good football business to acquire a young quarterback every year or every other year,” Quinn said. “There’s such a value in the position and nowadays in college football there’s a lot of spread offenses, which means it’s a lot different than pro football. So it takes these young quarterbacks time to develop. So if you can add a young quarterback every year or every other year to your roster, it’s good football business in my mind.”"
From Tom Brady to Russell Wilson to Dak Prescott there is no guarantee the top quarterback selected will be the best from his draft class. The Giants have multiple needs this offseason, but there’s no doubt they will at least need to bring in one young quarterback to compete with Webb.
GMEN HQ released five quarterbacks to target in the 2018 draft last month and now takes a deeper look at this year’s quarterback crop.