New York Giants: Eli Manning is an expensive tutor

The New York Giants have two options for Eli Manning next year. Either they keep him on as a tutor, or cut him and pay him $12.4 million to play elsewhere.

The New York Giants had an utter PR nightmare when they benched Eli Manning for Geno Smith last week. The Giants may also have the same dilemma next season around this time, because they will have to draft Manning’s heir apparent, but the two-time Super Bowl MVP may still be on the team.

The Giants are in a bit of a contract pickle with Manning. John Mara admitting to handling the situation with the benching poorly, and Manning may want out, but the Giants may be stuck with him.

There are two major problems. Unless Manning waives his no-trade clause, he can’t be traded, and there’s a huge cap penalty for cutting him. The Giants will have to pay around 56 percent ($12.4 million) of his cap hit for 2018 regardless of whether or not they keep him. His $6.2 million signing bonuses for 2018 and 2019 are guaranteed.

The Giants will save $9.8 million in cap space by cutting him. That said, they’d see him walk, sign wherever he wants and still have to pay him $12.4 million. So, unless they can negotiate waving the no-trade clause, Eli Manning is a Giant for at least the 2018 season.

It will be a different scenario that this season, though. Likely, the Giants will know they will be changing quarterbacks at some point. They just won’t know when. Unless of course, Eli Manning somehow guides them to the playoffs.

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That scenario notwithstanding, he’s going to be an expensive tutor. Manning will be playing the role that was occupied by Kurt Warner in 2004 when the former was drafted No. 1 overall. If the Giants land Sam Darnold in the draft, it will give them the perfect “redshirt” season for Darnold. Unfortunately, the run for Manning is probably not over until after 2018.