Giants owners hint that team could look to draft Manning's successor

It's only a matter of time before a quarterback other than Eli Manning will be leading the way in New York.

Very much aware of the need to prepare for that day, which likely isn't far off as Manning now heads into his age 36 season, the Giants seem open to adding a young signal-caller sooner rather than later.

Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch hinted at the league meetings this week that taking a quarterback in April's draft is a realistic possibility.

"No, you can't beat age. I think it's certainly at the back of everybody's mind - including Eli's," Tisch said, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. "There's no urgency. There's no panic. But I think if you're a responsible owner, responsible GM, you've got to start thinking about it."

Mara went as far as to say that, if a quarterback is the best player available when the Giants are on the clock, such a pick should be made at some point in the not-too-distant future.

"I think we have to start thinking about it," Mara added. "I think you always have to look at drafting a quarterback where you can. Our philosophy going into the draft - at least mine - is just take the best player. It doesn't matter what position he is. I think if there's a chance to take a quarterback - it doesn't have to be this year - then you should take him."

Whether value ends up aligning with the eventual need at the position in April's draft remains to be seen. Should one of this year's top signal-callers fall to the No. 23 overall pick, though, perhaps the opportunity to land and groom Manning's successor will be too tempting for New York to pass up.

The top quarterbacks in this year's draft, all with a realistic chance to hear their names called in the opening round, include Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer, Mitchell Trubisky, and Patrick Mahomes.

While the owner is eyeing the draft, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo believes Manning's successor could already be on the roster in the form of newly acquired backup Geno Smith.

"I can't see why not," McAdoo told ESPN's Jordan Rannan and Mike Reiss, when asked about Smith being a possible long-term replacement for Manning.