New York Giants: Alex Smith should be a target this offseason

The New York Giants should consider trading for Alex Smith if the franchise and Eli Manning part ways before the upcoming NFL Draft.

Far more questions than answers hover over the New York Giants during the first full week of 2018. The Giants still don’t have a head coach or coaching staff in place. Multiple noteworthy players, specifically cornerback Eli Apple and left tackle Ereck Flowers, could be shown the door in attempts to change the culture inside the locker room. Hot takes about the Giants potentially trading wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. aren’t going anywhere due to the constant search for clicks and radio ratings.

The future of veteran quarterback Eli Manning is, all things considered, the most pressing matter Giants ownership will face between now and the draft. Whether or not the two-time Super Bowl MVP will remain with the franchise through the start of training camp sessions could affect potential head coaches putting pen to paper on a deal with the team. Some, understandably so, may not want to tackle a project at the position right out of the gates.

One doesn’t need to be an insider or beat reporter to realize Manning, who turned 37 years old earlier this month, felt betrayed when former coach Ben McAdoo benched him in favor of Geno Smith, a decision that ended Manning’s consecutive starts streak at 210. McAdoo was fired soon after that move, but Manning knows in the back of his mind that either then-general manager Jerry Reese or co-owner John Mara could’ve vetoed that call before Smith started against the Oakland Raiders.

Time heals all wounds, yes, but Manning embracing a trade to a contender such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, a move that would allow him to reunite with Tom Coughlin, isn’t a preposterous notion. Manning could go out on his terms, and he wouldn’t have to worry about being replaced by a signal-caller taken with the second pick of this year’s draft.

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Enter Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith into the discussion. Smith may have played his last snap with the Chiefs during this past weekend’s Wild Card loss to the Tennessee Titans, as the club is reportedly high on supposed heir apparent Patrick Mahomes. Assuming Mahomes is ready to accept the keys to the KC offense, the Chiefs should look to cash-in on a trade involving the veteran quarterback who turns 34 years old in May.

If Manning informs the Giants he wants out as soon as the new NFL year opens in March, Smith could be the ideal bridge quarterback the franchise will be looking for ahead of drafting a rookie with pick No. 2. Smith performed under similar circumstances in 2017, and he handled his business in a professional manner. He displayed big-arm capabilities and stretched the field throughout the campaign en route to throwing for 4,042 yards and 26 touchdowns, while at the same time tossing only five interceptions.

Smith being labeled as a “game manager” isn’t an insult, and anybody who would blame him for the team’s playoff loss to the Titans clearly didn’t watch that entire contest. A confident and stable quarterback who has been around for over a decade and who doesn’t make costly miscues could help Beckham, Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram further progress. Smith undeniably goes through poor periods of play, such as he did during the Chiefs’ losing streak last fall. So does Manning.

It should be pointed out this isn’t a discussion about choosing Smith over Manning. Manning is the greatest QB and, arguably, the greatest offensive player to ever feature for the Giants. He should start ahead of a rookie and of 2017 draft selection Davis Webb if he wishes, and if the unnamed first-year pro doesn’t steal the job in training camp and preseason games. If, however, Manning wants a clean break from the Giants, Smith becomes an intriguing option.

Next: Grading each 2017 first-round pick after rookie year

The 2017 Giants were a disastrous dumpster fire, but don’t mistake the New York roster for the 0-16 Cleveland Browns. New York possesses championship cornerstones on both sides of the football. It’s not a reach to suggest the right coaching staff coupled with multiple solid offseason transactions could see a Giants side that entered last year’s playoffs with an 11-5 record make a return to the postseason twelve months from now.

Manning’s future, Smith’s price tag and New York general manager Dave Gettleman’s willingness to part with draft picks will all dictate who starts at quarterback for the Giants come September. A trade for Smith’s services must be considered if Manning moves on in March.