GIANTS: No choice but to find Manning’s backup

INDIANAPOLIS — There is the hard part when it comes to the NFL quarterback vortex, and then the harder part. “It’s a challenging position to develop, first of all,’’ Giants coach Ben McAdoo said, “but to find a guy you can develop is even more challenging.’’ The Giants need to find a guy. The one position on the roster they are guaranteed to add to in free agency or the draft is quarterback, considering the only one under contract is Eli Manning. As durable as Manning had been, the Giants still need at least one backup. The desire to mold a youngster behind Manning prompted the Giants to take Ryan Nassib in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, and the desire is even stronger with Manning at 36 and general manager Jerry Reese acknowledging the quarterback is on the back nine of his career. So, this could be a year the Giants go back to the draft to find a quarterback — though it is not a great crop and signing a veteran as a backup in free agency is more likely. It would be fascinating if Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer dropped into the second round — ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper thinks that could

happen — but it is unlikely and even if it did, the Giants own the 23rd pick in the second round (55th overall) and a developmental player such as Kizer is not going to last that long.

Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech could be second- or third-round option, with Brad Kaaya (Miami) likely somewhere in the third or fourth round and Davis Webb (California) in the fourth or fifth round.

McAdoo said he is “not comfortable giving an assessment right now’’ of the quarterback prospects, as he is coming off free-agent evaluations and just now starting to crank up his draft preparation. But he will be on alert for a quarterback to groom.

“I think this is a good week to get ’em on the board a little bit,’’ McAdoo said, “just to let them talk about football in general, fundamentals, get a chance to take a look at their profile, their throwing motion, them dropping a little bit, winging it, see how they do with receivers they haven’t thrown to before. See if they can build chemistry as the workout goes on a little bit. See if they have a little bit of rhythm in their body. Having rhythm in your body is important.’’

Of the group that figures to go after the first round and before the sixth, Mahomes is the most prolific. He is the son of Pat Mahomes, the former major league pitcher — he went 8-0 for the Mets in 1999 — and the godson of another former big league pitcher, LaTroy Hawkins.

“It definitely helped me, seeing professional athletes, how hard they worked, when they got to the big leagues how hard they worked just to stay there,’’ Patrick Mahomes said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “That’s definitely something I feel is an advantage for me. For my first eight years of life I was everywhere, every stadium, I feel that’s helped prepare me for the work ethic and what it takes.’’

Mahomes played like a pinball wizard operating in Kliff Kingsbury’s Air Raid offense at Texas Tech, perhaps the most quarterbackfriendly system in college football. As a junior this past season, Mahomes threw for 5,052 yards along with 41 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and ran for 12 touchdowns. He put up an NCAArecord 819 yards of total offense against Oklahoma. He also has what scouts describe as sloppy mechanics and will have major adjustments to make at the next level.

“He’s a guy that the film’s pretty special,’’ 49ers general manager John Lynch said. “He’s a fun guy to watch.’’

He’s also a guy who needs plenty of time to figure it out — and time is something the Giants can offer to any rookie quarterback, given Manning’s ironman legacy.

Mahomes said he was scheduled for meetings Friday night with the Giants and the Jets.

“I feel I can be one of the best quarterbacks in this class,’’ he said, “if not the best.’’