New York Giants Should Consider Signing Josh McCown

Josh McCown could make for the perfect bridge backup quarterback for a New York Giants team still able to rely on starter Eli Manning.

The quarterback room of the New York Giants should have several fresh faces come next summer. Ryan Nassib, who has spent his NFL career serving as Eli Manning’s backup, will likely find a new home at some point this spring. Josh Johnson will enter free agency once the new NFL year begins.

Journeyman Josh McCown may be a realistic option for the Giants a month from now. As Fred Greetham of the Orange and Brown Report explained, the Cleveland Browns released McCown this past week to create additional salary cap space. McCown, per that story, was owed $4.375 million in salary and signing bonuses for the 2017 campaign, and the Browns elected to save that money since the team will be acquiring at least one new quarterback over the next several months.

McCown’s two-year stint with the Browns was filled with numerous ups and downs, and he paired 18 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions over that time. He likely would’ve notched wins over the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos in 2015 had he received better support from those around him, but he began to show his age in his five appearances last fall. McCown turns 38 years old in July, but his agent nevertheless claims he wants to remain in the league as an active player, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

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Neither McCown’s age nor his diminishing skills should prevent the Giants from giving him a call. In fact, they may result in Big Blue acquiring him on the cheap. New York doesn’t need a backup ready to take the offense over at the flip of a switch. Eli Manning is currently the most reliable starting QB in the league as it pertains to remaining healthy and in the lineup, and he showed no signs of breaking down this past season.

Between now and the first night of the draft, reporters and fans alike will speculate about the Giants possibly acquiring Manning’s replacement. That makes all kinds of sense, as Manning turned 36 years old earlier this year. Manning may not want to admit it, but logic suggests he is in the twilight of what has been a Hall of Fame career.

Manning remains New York’s starting quarterback heading into springtime, however, and he probably isn’t relinquishing that post anytime soon. Per Manning’s contract details made available by Spotrac, the Giants are realistically tied to the two-time Super Bowl MVP up through the end of the 2018 season. Assuming Manning doesn’t suffer any physical setbacks or a significant drop-off in production, it’s no stretch to assume he’ll remain under center for Big Blue another two years.

The Giants undeniably must begin thinking about life after Manning, but at what cost? New York won’t be sending any assets to the New England Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo. The Giants aren’t giving a massive contract to Mike Glennon, Tyrod Taylor or any available free agent. A club that recently made the playoffs and that has a franchise quarterback already on the roster probably shouldn’t spend a first-round pick on a signal caller, either.

McCown has no long-term future with the Giants or with any team, but that makes him an ideal bridge backup for a club that needs an additional body on the sideline for one season. Signing McCown wouldn’t affect the club’s draft plans in any way. New York could, and probably should, still draft a QB in the later rounds and allow that individual to spend some time with the well-traveled veteran under the learning tree.

During his two seasons with the Browns, McCown was a respected locker room leader. Per Keith Britton of 92.3 The FAN in Cleveland, McCown recently explained he still keeps in touch with former Brown Johnny Manziel. By all accounts, McCown will make an excellent coach once he hangs his cleats up if he decides to pursue such a career.

McCown could serve as a much-needed mentor in a New York locker room filled with young stars who haven’t won anything yet as a unit. While he’s never played in a championship game during his pro career, he has just about seen it all during his days in the NFL. The guidance McCown could offer to the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Eli Apple, a rookie quarterback and others could prove to be invaluable to head coach Ben McAdoo and to Manning.

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Manning shouldn’t be concerned with grooming a replacement in 2017, as he and his teammates instead must be focused on improving and getting past the opening weekend of next season’s playoffs. McCown is a serviceable backup for a team and a quarterback capable of winning the Super Bowl next February.

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