Can we trust New York Giants brass to get QB decision right?

At the 2004 NFL Draft, former general manager Ernie Accorsi made a decision that greatly impacted the New York Giants franchise.

Accorsi’s gamble on quarterback Eli Manning continues to pay dividends for the New York Giants to this day. And current GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur seem intent on riding the same horse as long as humanly possible.

Let there be no doubt that having Manning as a safety net, gave Gettleman and company confidence that the G-Men could grab running back Saquon Barkley, and then make a possible playoff run in 2018.

Despite what team brass said during and after the past season, no one brings in the likes of left tackle Nate Solder, linebacker Kareem Martin, edge defender Connor Barwin, running back Jonathan Stewart and guard Patrick Omameh with the clear intention of securing a 5-11 record.

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Part of the attraction about maintaining the “Manning safety net” comes from the fact that he’s a known quantity. Clearly, Manning at 38-years old remains a better option than Davis Webb, Kyle Lauletta or any of the 2019 quarterback class. Continuity accounts for something, but over the past several years, there has also been dwindling return on the Manning investment.

For example, you can get one percent rate of return on a savings account, or seven percent if you take the same money and place it in stocks or mutual funds. The savings account has no risk, and minimal return, while stocks have the possibility of higher return, but come with risk.

There you have the central theme between taking Sam Darnold versus having the Saquon Barkley/Eli Manning tandem last season.

It’s classic risk versus security.

Statistically, over the past few seasons, a case can and will be made for retaining Manning. But aspect of his that needs greater scrutiny is his win-loss record, which stands at 116-114 according to Pro Football Focus.

When Gettleman was selling fans and media on the Barkley selection, and Trader Dave did that frequently in draft’s run up, he also made veiled references to the 2018 quarterback class.

Making himself fall in love with a player almost certainly was aimed at USC’s Sam Darnold in particular. Since that time, Gettleman tried to play revisionist history now and he clarifies that the Giants’ selection of Barkley was no reflection on the quarterback class.

Not true, based upon his own words. But that was then, and he no longer has to “sell” the idea of drafting Barkley. Heck, he’s the AP Rookie-of-the-Year.

Last draft, Gettleman also perpetuated another seemingly low-risk, high-reward manuever for which former GM Jerry Reese was famous. He grabbed quarterback Kyle Lauletta in the fourth-round. Upon drafting the former Richmond Spider, everyone said the right things. After all, Lauletta was the Senior Bowl MVP.

Yet looking at Lauletta’s pre-draft scouting report, should have been an eye opener. In addition, if you subscribe to the “it’s only a fourth-round pick” theory, then how would have Da’Shawn Hand, Nick Nelson, Kenny Young or Dorance Armstrong look in Big Blue?

At best, Lauletta is a marginal NFL prospect, and at worst, he’ll be a wasted draft pick for a team that could have used young defensive help. No amount of NFL coaching can or will make up for a talent deficit.

Talent evaluators and coaches make this mistake at every single level of athletics.

When it comes to the quarterback position, there’s always inherent risk. Even the great New York Giants general manager George Young whiffed on Dave Brown in 1992. It happens.

This year’s quarterback class consists of Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State), Drew Lock (Missouri) and Daniel Jones (Duke). Both Will Grier (West Virginia) and Ryan Finley (NC State) aren’t likely to crack the first-round, but they will be drafted, likely within the first three rounds.

All it takes is one club, one general manager or one owner to fall in love with a quarterback talent. Where are Tim Tebow, Josh Freeman, Brady Quinn, Vince Young, Matt Leinert or Christian Ponder right now?

But you probably have to kiss some frogs in order to find the prince.

By not taking Darnold last year, Gettleman put extra pressure on himself this year for one simple reason. If he wasn’t in love with Darnold, how can he be in love with Haskins? Or Murray? Or Jones?

It’s a question that the veteran NFL executive will have to answer as he ponders the next big step in the future of the New York Giants. Unless Gettleman believes that Manning can play forever, he will have to take a risk sooner or later.