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NFC East Q&A: Which teams would trade their QB straight up for Eli Manning?
Dan Graziano
ESPN Staff Writer
Today's question: Would your team trade its starting quarterback straight up for Eli Manning?
John Keim, Washington Redskins reporter: A year from now this question could be tougher to answer if you’re the Redskins. Right now the answer is: Do you want the guy with two Super Bowls on his resume who is still playing well? Or do you want the guy you like, but you're not quite ready to pay him elite money since he has just one good season behind him? I even asked a few people in the league. One said he’d go with Kirk Cousins but the other two said they'd go with Manning. I think the Redskins would fall in with the latter group and would indeed go for Manning. That’s not a knock on Cousins, but Manning is simply more proven, and if you put him with the Redskins’ talent in the passing game, he’d be really dangerous. The Redskins clearly want to see more from Cousins (before paying him like a Pro Bowl passer); Manning has already shown what the Redskins want to see from Cousins. Manning has his issues -- a penchant for interceptions in the past and some up-and-down seasons. But he has also been very good for a number of years. One funny thing: Fans get on Cousins for dumping off so much and throwing shorter passes, but his career yards per attempt of 7.6 is actually a half-yard higher than Manning’s. Still, the bottom line is that the Redskins want a quarterback who can win a Super Bowl. You already know Manning can deliver that trophy.
Todd Archer, Dallas Cowboys reporter: I can answer this in one word: no. Manning has two Super Bowl wins and Tony Romo has two playoff wins, but if we’re judging the body of work as a QB, Romo is simply better. He can do more things. He can create when things break down -- that’s not something Manning does well. The argument can be made that Manning keeps himself out of trouble, but he just seems to get into funks when more is asked of him. Maybe others would consider this deal because of Romo’s health; Manning has not missed a start since taking over for the Giants in 2004. It’s a remarkable streak. Yes, he is durable and tough, and Romo missed 12 games last season. Call me hardheaded, but the Cowboys are still better with Romo as their quarterback than they would be if Manning was their quarterback.
Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Eagles reporter: This is a bit of a trick question when it comes to the Eagles. Would they trade Sam Bradford for Manning? They just might. Manning has two Super Bowl rings and would be a terrific guy to run the offense and help first-round pick Carson Wentz learn the ropes. Manning’s age -- he’s 35 -- wouldn’t be an issue because the Eagles would be looking for him to yield the floor to Wentz in a year or so. If the question is whether the Eagles would trade Wentz for Manning, the answer is: heck no. The whole point here was to acquire a young quarterback with the potential to be a franchise player as Manning and Romo (and other star NFL quarterbacks in their age range) are on the way out.
Dan Graziano
ESPN Staff Writer
Today's question: Would your team trade its starting quarterback straight up for Eli Manning?
John Keim, Washington Redskins reporter: A year from now this question could be tougher to answer if you’re the Redskins. Right now the answer is: Do you want the guy with two Super Bowls on his resume who is still playing well? Or do you want the guy you like, but you're not quite ready to pay him elite money since he has just one good season behind him? I even asked a few people in the league. One said he’d go with Kirk Cousins but the other two said they'd go with Manning. I think the Redskins would fall in with the latter group and would indeed go for Manning. That’s not a knock on Cousins, but Manning is simply more proven, and if you put him with the Redskins’ talent in the passing game, he’d be really dangerous. The Redskins clearly want to see more from Cousins (before paying him like a Pro Bowl passer); Manning has already shown what the Redskins want to see from Cousins. Manning has his issues -- a penchant for interceptions in the past and some up-and-down seasons. But he has also been very good for a number of years. One funny thing: Fans get on Cousins for dumping off so much and throwing shorter passes, but his career yards per attempt of 7.6 is actually a half-yard higher than Manning’s. Still, the bottom line is that the Redskins want a quarterback who can win a Super Bowl. You already know Manning can deliver that trophy.
Todd Archer, Dallas Cowboys reporter: I can answer this in one word: no. Manning has two Super Bowl wins and Tony Romo has two playoff wins, but if we’re judging the body of work as a QB, Romo is simply better. He can do more things. He can create when things break down -- that’s not something Manning does well. The argument can be made that Manning keeps himself out of trouble, but he just seems to get into funks when more is asked of him. Maybe others would consider this deal because of Romo’s health; Manning has not missed a start since taking over for the Giants in 2004. It’s a remarkable streak. Yes, he is durable and tough, and Romo missed 12 games last season. Call me hardheaded, but the Cowboys are still better with Romo as their quarterback than they would be if Manning was their quarterback.
Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Eagles reporter: This is a bit of a trick question when it comes to the Eagles. Would they trade Sam Bradford for Manning? They just might. Manning has two Super Bowl rings and would be a terrific guy to run the offense and help first-round pick Carson Wentz learn the ropes. Manning’s age -- he’s 35 -- wouldn’t be an issue because the Eagles would be looking for him to yield the floor to Wentz in a year or so. If the question is whether the Eagles would trade Wentz for Manning, the answer is: heck no. The whole point here was to acquire a young quarterback with the potential to be a franchise player as Manning and Romo (and other star NFL quarterbacks in their age range) are on the way out.
