New York Giants: It may be worth giving Chad Kelly a chance

Chad Kelly may have his issues, but signing the embattled quarterback is a low-risk move that could pay huge dividends for the New York Giants

Let’s face it, folks, the New York Giants are an absolute mess, and while not all of the team’s issues rest on his shoulders, Eli Manning has been a huge part of the problem.

Manning has looked like a shell of his former self and while his stat line for the year is respectable, it belies how his play has hurt the Giants in key situations.

After Sunday’s loss to the Washington Redskins, head coach Pat Shurmur said that benching the two-time Super Bowl MVP after the Giants bye week is not out of the realm of possibility.

However, based on reports from Monday’s practice, there’s a very real chance that Shurmur will follow through.

Rookie signal-caller Kyle Lauletta received more first-team reps during New York’s first bye week practice Monday morning and for all we know, Lauletta could play well now that he’s had more time to learn the playbook.

Yet, early returns on the Richmond product haven’t been promising and now that the season is officially down the tubes, the Giants should consider all possible options both on and off the roster.

With that in mind, why not take a flier on Chad Kelly?

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Kelly has way too much baggage to fit in with the Giants and, to some extent, that’s true.

The embattled signal caller got a dismissed from the Clemson football program for conduct detrimental to the team and has had his run-ins with the law.

This is including his arrest for suspicion of first-degree criminal trespassing last week that ultimately led to him being cut – are huge red flags.

However, Kelly is more than just a Hall of Fame name.

Despite character concerns that made his draft stock plummet, the 2017 NFL Draft’s Mr. Irrelevant was widely praised by scouts for his impressive arm talent and was drawing comparisons to Andy Dalton throughout the draft process.

While Dalton is by no means elite, that’s a pretty solid floor to have and it may have already been passed by Kelly.

The second-year signal-caller impressed the Broncos’ coaching staff this preseason, so much so that the team cut Paxton Lynch before the season began and named Kelly as the team’s backup.

Also, was just one terrible Case Keenum performance away from earning his first NFL start according to reports from inside the organization.

Unfortunately, he just couldn’t get out of his own way.

Kelly has his character issues, no doubt about it.

However, giving him a look would be a solid low-risk, high-reward move that could pay huge dividends for the Giants.

If he fails to live up to expectations, the Giants can easily cut him and look toward the draft for their next quarterback.

What do they have to lose?