JAGUARS SHOULD CONSIDER ACQUIRING ELI MANNING AFTER 2017 SEASON

Eli Manning by Mike Morbeck

The Eli Manning era has come to a close for the New York Giants. 

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Just minutes ago the Giants made it known that they would bench Eli Manning, perhaps the greatest QB in franchise history, for . . .  Geno Smith. Yeah, that's how poorly the Giants season is going right now. The 2-9 Giants are the most disappointing team in the NFL.

Manning has been far from perfect for the Giants this year, but he's proven that he is still a more than serviceable starting QB in the NFL. Despite not having a running game and dealing with injuries around him Manning has thrown 14 TDs to 7 INTs at this point in the season. Again, he hasn't played at a Pro Bowl level this year, but he'll certainly garner attention from teams that feel they are close to winning.

Of course, the 36 year old QB is still under contract with the Giants for two more years. But that won't stop teams from trying to get their hands on the two time Super Bowl campion. If the Giants decide not to release Manning in the offseason, then teams will quickly attempt to trade for him. 

Should the Jaguars be one of those teams?

They should certainly entertain the idea. Manning is far better than Blake Bortles - there's simply no debating that fact. Throughout the course of his career Eli Manning has been at his best in the games' most crucial moments, while Bortles has been at his worst when his team needs it most. Manning is also a much more efficient passer of the ball in nearly every statistical category. And unlike Bortles, Manning's throwing motion doesn't need to be fixed.

Still, Manning might not be the Jaguars only option. There are several big name QBs entering the 2017 NFL Draft and there could be a few available via free agency or trade. Kirk Cousins has been jerked around by the Redskins to this point in contract negotiations, while Chiefs QB Alex Smith appears ready to lose his starting job to Pat Mahomes.

There will, undoubtedly, be a lot of options for the Jaguars next offseason when it comes to QB. That list of options should not include keeping Blake Bortles. 

The Jaguars should attempt to acquire a veteran QB like Manning, Cousins, or Smith and also draft one or maybe two QBs in April. 

If I was Dave Caldwell (I'm not), Manning would be on my short list. Cousins certainly is a much better option than Manning considering age, but the first option doesn't always come to fruition. 

And if Manning is the starting QB for the Jaguars next year, Jaguars fans should be very, very happy.  Manning is a potential Hall of Fame QB and will be looking to get one more ring -- just like his brother Peyton did (the Manning way?) -- before he rides off into the sunset. If Manning were the Jaguars QB this year, they'd be one of the favorites to win the AFC and would be a much, much stronger contender. The team should only get better next year with the potential return of Allen Robinson and the invaluable experience that many of the Jaguars young stars are gaining in 2017. 

Would you like to see Eli Manning in a Jaguars uniform? Let us know in the comments below!

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