Eli Manning's benching this week could very well signal the end for him with the New York Giants following 210 consecutive regular-season starts and two Super Bowl titles. It's unclear whether Manning will opt for retirement -- he turns 37 in January -- but if the Giants release him and he decides to continue, some landing spots make more sense than others.
Whatever course Manning's career takes from here will affect multiple organizations and his own candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Supporters can point to his role in hoisting two Lombardi trophies and in leading 30 fourth-quarter comeback victories, tied with New England's Tom Brady and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger for the NFL lead since Manning entered the league. Detractors can point to all the interceptions and middling seasons, while contending that Manning was never even one of the very best quarterbacks of his era, let alone all time.
If the balance still needs to be tipped, Manning could conceivably do the tipping himself by claiming his third Super Bowl victory with a second franchise. This season has proved that Manning needs more help than the Giants have been able to give him. For that reason, he would fit best with teams that feel as though they're a veteran quarterback away from winning big.
Eight potential landing spots stood out during conversations with coaches and evaluators throughout the league.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have multiple key components the Giants possessed when Manning was winning Super Bowls.
They have a ferocious pass rush to rival the one New York had when Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck were dominant forces up front. They are committed to the ground game and have shown an ability to run the ball well (Jacksonville's line coach, Pat Flaherty, was the Giants' line coach for both Super Bowl victories). The Jaguars also have former Giants coach Tom Coughlin working as their top football executive.
What Jacksonville doesn't have is a good quarterback. Blake Bortles combines the worst of Manning (high interception rate) without any of the upside (Manning's vast playoff experience and the aforementioned fourth-quarter comeback mark). While Manning's performance has declined, he hasn't had the ground game or defense he enjoyed during his better seasons. The Jaguars could provide both, which could help Manning push for a third championship.
"Eli would love it -- he could finally hand the ball off," an insider said. "He hasn't been able to do that in a long, long time. They could go draft a receiver high or another tight end because Marcedes Lewis is nearing the end. Just get whatever is the best value."
2. Denver Broncos
Broncos general manager John Elway already lured one Manning to Denver with the promise of contending for a title. Peyton set records and won his second career championship with a huge assist from a Broncos defense that is now aging, but still potentially formidable. If the Broncos could fortify their offensive line and running game, they could put together an appealing sales pitch.
The Broncos do not have the same leadership ties to Manning that Jacksonville could offer, although that could change if Elway pushes through another staff housecleaning. It's tough to envision Elway going into next season with Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch or Brock Osweiler figuring prominently into the starting equation.
"Denver, absolutely," one of the insiders said. "They don't run the ball well enough, but at least the defense is good, and you have that to start with."
3. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer could return for the final year of his contract. If he retires, or the team decides to head in another direction, and if the Cardinals see themselves as possessing the talent to make a championship run, Manning could be an appealing option.
"The head coach [Bruce Arians] needs a seasoned guy who can deal it," an insider said. "He is making [Blaine] Gabbert look pretty good. He worked wonders with Palmer. You get Eli there and it would be a good fit. They will get [running back] David Johnson back. The defense is good. They are missing a trigger man."
This insider thought Palmer was declining even when he still had the combination of Johnson, receiver Larry Fitzgerald and a decent defense. The Giants' situation -- specifically, the lack of a running game -- was more difficult for a quarterback to overcome, this insider thought.
Fitzgerald recently signed an extension through the 2018 season, which drew me back to what a head coach said about Manning several years ago: "He is a guy that has the ultimate trust in a big wide receiver."
Of course, Fitzgerald's expected return could help convince Palmer to play another season. How excited would the Cardinals be to welcome him back?
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Current Buccaneers starter Jameis Winston ranks 20th in Total QBR, 31st in passer rating and 35th in interception rate since entering the league. While Winston has, by all accounts, established himself as an emotional leader and hard worker, the off-field concerns that followed him from Florida State to the NFL were revived when a female Uber driver accused him of touching her inappropriately in 2016. Winston has denied the allegation, which the NFL is investigating.
"They have talent, but they need maturity," an insider said. "They are also in a tough division. They need to be bold to improve. Do you move Winston while you can still get something for him?"
Winston's rookie deal runs through 2018. The team will have the right to exercise a fifth-year option for the 2019 season. In the meantime, March is when labor rules allow Winston and other members of the 2015 rookie class to negotiate second contracts. Could concerns over Winston's performance and maturity lead the organization to reassess? If so, Manning then emerges as a shorter-term solution for a team flush with offensive weapons. But not everyone I talked to was convinced.
"I don't feel this one as much," another insider said. "They have a lot invested in Jameis."
5. Buffalo Bills
The Bills tipped their hand when they benched Tyrod Taylor for a week. Their long-term plan is taking them in another direction.
"I don't think Eli is the type of guy they want," an insider said. "I think they want a young guy to develop and to make him their own. It is hard to get a guy better than Tyrod when you look at the numbers, but he is so limited. You are caught right on the edge, where if you go with Tyrod, you are 9-7 and will lose in the first round [of the playoffs] every time."
Buffalo has stockpiled draft choices that could be used to find a quarterback and/or build a supporting cast. Backup QB Nathan Peterman could still be part of the picture even after throwing five first-half interceptions in his starting debut. Peterman can't plausibly be the entire picture, however.
"They obviously aren't happy with Tyrod," another insider said. "They have a sound defense. They have some draft picks to play with. That wouldn't be a bad location for Eli."
6. Miami Dolphins
Jay Cutler will presumably head back into retirement. Ryan Tannehill will be returning from ACL surgery with three years remaining on his contract. Tannehill could be the leading option, but the Dolphins would save against the salary cap if they decided to move on from him.
"I could see them making a push for a guy like Eli," an insider said. "[Head coach Adam] Gase feels like his offense has been just trash for a while. He has some pieces on defense. That would be a fair one to put on there depending on how they feel about Tannehill."
7. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota, like Jacksonville and Denver, has a winning defense already, but there is quarterback uncertainty beyond this season. The Vikings have options depending on how they feel about Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum. The dynamics could change based on whether offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur lands a head-coaching job.
"I see them bringing back one of the guys they already have got," one insider said. "I think they let [Sam] Bradford go. If Case plays like this, they bring him back. And I think they want to keep Bridgewater. You might have to commit to one, but I don't see them going outside those three guys to bring in a quarterback."
The Vikings are on the list because they're a winning team that has none of its current top three quarterbacks signed beyond this season.
"Eli is not necessarily Zimmer's kind of guy," an insider who has worked with the fiery Zimmer said, "but he is a veteran. Maybe that will overshadow everything. When you need a quarterback, you find ways to make it right. Zimmer played against Eli a lot when he was in Dallas. I could see that as a down-the-list kind of place."
8. New York Jets
Manning could continue playing in the same stadium for home games if he made the switch to the Jets. The team would use an early draft choice for its future quarterback regardless.
It could be a tougher sell for Manning if he thought the Jets were a couple years away from contending seriously, or if he thought he would simply become a short-term bridge to a highly-drafted successor.
"I see the Jets going into the draft and getting their own guy," one of the insiders said. "Just from an ownership standpoint, they could say, 'We are getting the Giants' leftovers.' They want to forge their own identity. It would not be an absolute 'no' on Eli, but that's how I see it."