The Giants could have some very big decisions to make if they end up with the No. 1 overall pick next April.
Not only is Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater expected to be the best player available in the 2014 NFL Draft, but scouts and league executives say as many as eight other passers are headed for first-round grades in what is shaping up to be one of the deepest years ever for the position.
That’s considered a godsend for quarterback-starved bottom feeders like the Jaguars, Vikings and Buccaneers, but the Giants are locked into a long, rich deal with Eli Manning and continue to emphasize their two-time Super Bowl MVP’s 12 interceptions aren’t the main reason for their shocking 0-5 start.
Even so, the chance to take Bridgewater could be too tempting for Big Blue, even with South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney considered just as worthy of the top pick.
“[Bridgewater] is smart, he’s a character guy, he’s poised, he’s got good size, he can make all the throws and he can do it on the run, too,” an NFC general manager told The Post on Monday. “Any team in the top five would take a very long look at him, even if they’ve got a franchise [quarterback] already.”
Any talk of the Giants considering Bridgewater or fellow highly rated passer prospects Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M and Brett Hundley of UCLA next spring might also be premature because all three are underclassmen and still have to declare.
But many NFL insiders consider that move a forgone conclusion for all three, especially the 6-foot-3, 196-pound Bridgewater. That’s because he has little left to prove to scouts and likely won’t be seriously challenged until the bowl season after Louisville was bumped down to the motley American Athletic Conference for one season while awaiting entry to the ACC.
Bridgewater’s numbers so far are spectacular — he has completed 72 percent of his passes for 1,562 yards and 16 touchdowns with just 1 interception through five games — but have come against the likes of Kentucky, Florida International and Temple.
While the unbeaten Cardinals play host to 4-1 Rutgers Thursday on ESPN, Bridgewater continues to be head and shoulders above his competition. There’s still plenty of season left, but boredom could be his biggest foe until the postseason and draft-decision time.
Teams are relishing the chance to take Bridgewater because he is so polished and in many ways is already considered NFL-ready.
“Bridgewater’s the best of the whole group,” said NFL Network draft analyst Gil Brandt, who was referring to the entire draft and not just the upcoming quarterback class.
Bridgewater’s NFL readiness was on display once again in a 30-7 rout of Temple last weekend, when he completed passes to a whopping 10 different receivers while throwing for 348 yards and two touchdowns overall.
Bridgewater also impresses scouts with his football smarts and his obvious devotion to studying the game.
“You can tell by the way [Bridgewater] plays that he lives in the film room,” an NFC college scout said Monday. “He understands defenses, doesn’t lock into one [receiver] and has good downfield vision. Very impressive kid.”
Louisville’s offense also calls its plays at the line of scrimmage, yet Bridgewater rarely — if ever — has the Cardinals in the same play twice in a row. It’s a skill that confounds college defenses and wows NFL draft graders.
“That’s Drew Brees stuff,” Temple defensive coordinator Phil Snow, who has NFL coaching experience, told reporters last week. “That’s Peyton Manning.”
As a result, that’s something the Giants — even with Peyton’s little brother at the helm — will have to think long and hard about passing up if the opportunity arises.