If New York Giants are looking to the future, Eli Apple needs to play

Ben McAdoo claims the New York Giants are looking to the future by benching Eli Manning but 2016 first-round pick Eli Apple has been a healthy scratch for the past three weeks.

If the New York Giants are punting on this season and seeing what they have for the future, why is Eli Apple on the sideline in street clothes?

I understand that Apple was originally inactive against the Kansas City Chiefs after missing practice time to be with his mother while she had brain surgery. I’m also very happy to hear that Annie Apple is recovering as expected.

However, Apple felt ready to play on Thanksgiving against the Washington Redskins and almost everyone expected him to play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Apple was inactive for both games.

With top cornerback Janoris Jenkins now on injured reserve with an ankle injury, recently signed Brandon Dixon and Darryl Morris replaced Apple on the active roster Sunday in Oakland.

Who?!? Exactly!

What Ben McAdoo has said with his words and actions in the last few weeks is that Geno Smith, Brandon Dixon, and Darryl Morris are more involved in the future of the New York Giants than Eli Manning and Eli Apple.

First of all, there’s just about zero chance McAdoo is a part of the Giants future. And I can understand the argument that Manning isn’t either considering his age. I don’t agree with that argument but I at least understand it.

Apple, however, is 22 years old and was a top-10 pick just two years ago. It is far too early to give up on him. Heck, Ereck Flowers is starting at left tackle for a third straight year. Don’t tell me he showed enough to earn all those starts but Apple hasn’t.

Yes, Flowers kept starting because the Giants didn’t have any better options. But Dixon and Morris are not better options than Apple.

Unlike Flowers, actually, Apple has shown encouraging signs when on the field over his first year and a half in the league. Apple’s biggest issue has been consistency.

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In Week 6 against the Denver Broncos, Apple was targeted ten times but allowed just five catches for 38 yards and recorded a pass breakup, according to Pro Football Focus. He followed that up in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks by allowing just two catches for 17 yards on six targets and picked up two more pass breakups, per PFF.

Eli Apple was riding high when the Giants had their bye in Week 8. The entire secondary was then torched against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9 and things kept going downhill from there.

General manager Jerry Reese should also want to see Apple on the field. If Apple isn’t worth playing, Reese’s draft track record becomes that much worse, which won’t do him any favors when John Mara is deciding whether or not to keep him around.

In order for Apple’s play to get more consistent, he needs to be on the field. There’s no better time to work out the kinks than when the team is 2-10 and you’re almost trying to lose games to secure a higher draft pick.

Next: Geno Smith is exactly what we thought he was

If the New York Giants are focused on the future, Eli Apple needs to at least get an audition to be a part of it.

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