Giants Committed To Keeping Eli Manning For 2019 Season

Dan Graziano, citing multiple sources familiar with the team’s plan, reports that the Giants are committed to keeping QB Eli Manning on their roster for the 2019 season.

Manning is owed a $5 million roster bonus if he is still on the roster as of 4 p.m. ET this Saturday. The Giants could save $17 million of salary and bonus money by releasing him.

However, Graziano’s sources have said Manning is expected to be on their roster through the Saturday deadline and for him to be their starter to open the season.

“He’s what we have at this point,” a Giants source tells Graziano.

The Giants are willing to admit that they’ll need to find a successor to Manning at some point in the near future and it’s possible they could draft a quarterback in round one this year.

While that may make sense to many, Graziano adds that the Giants are not certain to use a first-round pick on a quarterback and they won’t feel compelled to take one if they don’t think they’re worth it.

Graziano’s sources expect the Giants to explore a trade for Arizona’s Josh Rosen, if the Cardinals decide to make him available.

Manning, 38, is a former first-round pick of the Chargers back in 2004. He was traded to the Giants during the draft and has spent all 14 years of his career in New York.

Manning is entering the final year of his five-year, $101.5 million contract that included $65 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $11.5 million for the 2019 season.

In 2018, Manning appeared in all 16 games for the Giants and completed 66 percent of his passes for 4,299 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.