Eli Manning is nothing if not diplomatic. He is Switzerland: A walking, talking, pass-throwing fence-straddler.
The Giants veteran quarterback is as apt to inject a strong — if mildly controversial — public opinion as he would be found dancing on a bar during happy hour in one of the frat-boy pubs in Hoboken, N.J., where he has lived since the Giants drafted him in 2004.
So — despite the fact he has as much at stake as anyone on the Giants roster as he enters the final year of his contract — to ask Manning whom he’d like the Giants to pick with their No. 9 overall selection in Thursday’s NFL draft is like asking him which brother he’d rather have dinner with, Peyton or Cooper.
“I don’t think I’ll be glued to the TV,’’ Manning said of the draft, “but I’ll be watching for the recap to see how it all unfolded.’’
One thing Manning said he always does, as the team leader, is make sure he reaches out to his new teammates soon after they’re drafted.
“I try to send a text or call the guys to welcome them to the team and say I’m looking forward to getting to know them and working with them … and just kind of give them a little introduction and welcome them to the team,’’ he said.
Who would Manning like to welcome first with that No. 9 overall pick?
Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, the player many believe the Giants have targeted? Miami tackle Ereck Flowers or Stanford tackle Andrus Peat? Or West Virginia receiver Kevin White, Louisville receiver DeVante Parker or Georgia running back Todd Gurley?
All of these players have been linked, either by team visits or various mock drafts, to the Giants.
Any would fill Giants needs.
And any of them would be welcomed by Manning to his offense, because who knows how many more runs at another Super Bowl title Manning has left?
Though he has been one of the most durable quarterbacks in league history, he is 34, entering his 12th season and in the final year of his contract on a team that has failed to make the playoffs the last three years and five of the last six.
So you can bet Manning would like more help on offense — not that he would come out and say it, nor that he has any say in the matter.
“The Giants have scouts and personnel guys who have been looking at players and that’s all they do,’’ Manning said. “They know what’s best and who the best players are and what we need. They have a system of doing things and it’s not my job to get in the way. They do a great job and I put total faith in them.’’
Pressed on preferences, though, Manning did finally say, “As a quarterback, you never complain about more offensive linemen or receivers or running backs or tight ends.’’
A year ago, the Giants drafted receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the first round and few — including Manning — had much of an idea how good that pick would end up being until a month into the season because Beckham had spent the entire offseason and training camp nursing a hamstring injury.
Once he finally began playing, Beckham became one of the best players in the NFL, catching 91 passes for 1,305 yards and 12 TDs in just 12 games.
“We had such limited time working with him, but after his first couple of games we saw him making plays and we realized we’ve got to find ways to get the ball to this guy,’’ Manning said.
Twelve years ago, Manning was the Giants’ top pick. He recalled all of the unknowns he was faced with when he first arrived.
“You don’t really know what’s about to happen,’’ Manning said. “You’re just trying to figure things out and you don’t know what the future is going to be. We’ve had some good years and won some championships, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.’’
Manning, of course, diplomatically left it unspoken, but that work can be made a lot easier if management gives him more help on offense with that No. 9 overall pick Thursday night.