NFL Trade Rumors: Will The Giants Deal Eli Manning? Quarterback Unlikely To Leave New York In 2018

The New York Giants appear to be sellers ahead of the 2018 NFL trade deadline. The team is tied for the worst record in the league with six losses in their first seven games, and they’ve begun to unload starters in exchange for future draft picks.

It started Tuesday when the Giants traded cornerback Eli Apple to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 2019 fourth-round draft pick and a 2020 seventh-rounder. On Wednesday morning, New York traded stud defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the Detroit Lions for a fifth-round selection in next year’s draft.

New York’s apparent admission that they won’t compete for a playoff spot this season raises the question of whether or nor the team would consider trading Eli Manning. The Giants will almost certainly be looking for a new quarterback in 2019. It might make sense to see if they could get something in return for the two-time Super Bowl MVP before cutting ties with him in the offseason.

Head coach Pat Shurmur doesn’t expect Manning to go anywhere before the Oct. 30 trade deadline.

“Yes, I do,” Shurmur said, via ESPN.com, when asked if he believes Manning will be the Giants’ starting quarterback in two weeks. "I think Eli will be our quarterback. He has been and he will continue to be here. I don't know how that will play into the Eli Apple trade.”

Even if New York decided to explore the market for Manning, there likely wouldn’t be a ton of suitors for the veteran. The quarterback’s best days are behind him, engineering an offense that’s 27th in points per game. Manning has a 4-18 record in his last 22 starts.

Much of New York’s struggles have been the result of a bad offensive line, and there are some that believe he could be productive with more protection. The Jacksonville Jaguars are often brought up in theoretical trade scenarios for Manning since former Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin is the team’s executive vice president of football operations and Jacksonville has quarterback issues of their own.

Manning might be an upgrade over Blake Bortles, who has not performed well since nearly winning last year’s AFC Championship Game in New England. Bortles’ 80.3 passer rating ranks 28th in the league, while Manning is 16th with a 94.1 rating. Bortles’ eight interceptions are twice as many as Manning’s four picks, despite playing behind a much better offensive line.

However, Jacksonville doesn’t seem likely to trade for a quarterback, even after benching Bortles in favor of Cody Kessler in the team’s Week 7 loss to the Houston Texans.

In order for the Giants to trade Manning, the quarterback would have to waive his no-trade clause. He’s been with New York ever since the team acquired him from the San Diego Chargers in a trade on the day of the 2004 NFL Draft.

“I haven’t thought about a trade scenario,” Manning told WFAN’s Mike Francesa Tuesday afternoon when asked if it was important for the quarterback to finish his career with the Giants. “This is the only team I’ve ever played for and the only thing I know and I love the New York Giants. It’s hard to imagine being with another organization.”

“My focus is trying to get a win for the Giants and get prepared to play this next game and see if we can just turn things around and give ourselves an opportunity.”

Manning has one year left on his contract. If he’s traded before the deadline, his new team would take on $17 million of salary through the 2019 season, according to Spotrac.