The Giants went into the 2017 draft flirting with the possibility of drafting Eli Manning's successor.
For now, it seems like they'll settle for a developmental backup to compete for a spot behind the NFL's iron man quarterback.
California quarterback Davis Webb, believed by some teams to be a first-round caliber passer, went to the Giants with the 87th overall pick on Friday. Webb is the highest passer taken by the Giants since 2004, when the team picked Philip Rivers and swapped him for Manning in the first round.
A transfer out of Texas Tech -- Webb battled eventual first-round pick Patrick Mahomes for a starting spot -- Webb replaced last year's No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff at Cal and posted 4,295 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2016.
"We thought he had the best arm in the draft this year," Giants general manager Jerry Reese told reporters. He added: "He has a high ceiling that can develop behind (Eli Manning)."
Of late, the Giants have discussed Manning being on the "back nine" of his career. That has led to a fairly expedited search for a potential replacement. This is not unforeseen territory, though. The Giants have, through the years, also experimented with developmental prospects like Ryan Nassib and Rhett Bomar. None have been able to stick on the roster for long.
This cannot be welcome news for former second-round pick Geno Smith, who landed with the Giants in a rehabilitative effort to jump start his career. Now, he will need to hope that Big Blue keeps three passers on the roster this year.
