New York Giants have to decide on direction for 2018

Are the New York Giants trying to win, or trying to rebuild? After a few months on the job in Gotham, general manager Dave Gettleman is sending mixed signals.

New York came into the offseason with a litany of problems at the forefront, shown by a disastrous 2-14 season that netted it the second-overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. The New York Giants were widely believed to be taking a quarterback at that spot. It needed someone to eventually replace the aging Eli Manning. Instead, it appears Manning might be the future despite being 37 years old and only signed through the 2019 campaign.

Beyond that, the Giants came into March with a boatload of cap space and spent a good chunk of it by acquiring linebacker Alec Ogletree via trade from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for 2018 fourth and sixth-round picks. Only days later, Gettleman signed left tackle Nate Solder to a four-year deal worth $62 million including $34.8 million guaranteed.

Both of those moves are made by a team with plans of contention immediately, but then Thursday morning happened. The Giants dealt away defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a third-round pick, while the two teams swapped fourth-rounders.

Moving on from Pierre-Paul serves little benefit on the field or away from it in 2018. New York is moving back in the fourth round. While the third-round choice is valuable, does it replace what is a solid pass-rusher, even after his infamous fireworks disaster?

Pierre-Paul is signed for three more seasons at $39.5 million, so getting Tampa Bay to acquire that contract is a win long-term for Gettleman. That said, the 29-year-old was part of New York’s best unit last year — the defensive line. Over the past two seasons, Pierre-Paul has notched 15.5 sacks. This makes him a real contributor who could have helped the Giants rebound.

Want $250 to bet on NFL Futures?

So where does all of this leave New York? In limbo.

The New York Giants are nowhere near as good as the Philadelphia Eagles. While they might be able to compete with the lagging Washington Redskins and stale Dallas Cowboys, what good does that do? New York is going to be hard-pressed to compete for the postseason, and if it doesn’t take the quarterback of the future in April, Big Blue fans are left with no vision for the future and an ugly present.

Gettleman has to make the direction clear in the coming weeks and months. Drafting Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold would let the fanbase know that a rebuild is coming. Anything else would lend credence to the idea that the Giants want to win now, something they don’t appear ready to do.