2015 New York Giants Positional Breakdown: Quarterbacks

Throughout the next several weeks, I’ll be breaking down the Giants’ roster, position by position. We’ll take a look at what each player brings to the table, their chances of making the roster and, if applicable, their roles on the 2015 team. First, we’ll take a look at the quarterback position.

New York Giants quarterbacks Ryan Nassib (9) and Eli Manning (10) with offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo (Zuma Press).

Eli Manning

Roster odds: 100%. Duh.

This time last year, many questioned what Manning had left in the tank after tossing a league-leading 27 interceptions in 2013. But a change to new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s West Coast offense turned things around for Manning in 2014, who threw for 30 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. His 63.1% completion percentage and 70.9 QBR represented career-highs.

The Giants will hope Manning’s career resurgence continues into 2015. Honestly, there’s no real reason to think it won’t. The Giants have taken steps to improve their biggest offensive liability, the offensive line, by selecting OT Ereck Flowers ninth overall in the NFL Draft. Manning should also benefit from the addition of free agent WR Dwayne Harris, and the return of Victor Cruz.

While Manning’s season outlook is bright, it’s worth noting that a disastrous season could signal the end of his Giants career. His contract expires after this season, so a regression could deter the Giants from giving him a big money contract at age 35. But with the improvement he showed in 2014, and the fact there isn’t much of an in-house heir to Manning’s throne, it would be a surprise not to see Eli back with Big Blue in 2016.

Ryan Nassib

Roster odds: 95%

As tends to be the case with most of Eli Manning’s backups, Nassib saw very little action last year, only taking the field in garbage time. However, the former fourth-round pick out of Syracuse shined in the 2014 preseason, completing 44 of his 74 passes (59.5%) for 588 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Nassib should play the same role this season. The Giants will hope he doesn’t have to take the field, but he’ll be ready if the time comes. The only way Nassib doesn’t make the roster is if he completely falls on his face in the preseason.

Ricky Stanzi

Roster odds: 5%

The former fifth-round pick out of Iowa was signed to a reserve/future contract back in January. Through four seasons, Stanzi has yet to see regular season action. He spent most of last season on the street until he joined the Texans’ practice squad in December.

Stanzi is a major longshot to make the Giants out of camp, especially since the Giants generally only keep two quarterbacks on the active roster. His only real hope is to outshine Nassib in the preseason. Even then, it would have to be in convincing fashion for the Giants to seriously consider naming Stanzi the backup over Nassib. His most likely destination is the practice squad.