Eli Manning needs help.
Sure, he’s still recovering from arthroscopic ankle surgery and may require a boost now and then until he’s physically ready to take the field. The aid Manning truly seeks to purify his toxic 2013 season must arrive as additional offensive threats for him to lean on.
Take a look at his supporting cast in the passing game. Who keeps opposing defenses up at night? Victor Cruz is a star receiver, but the huge plays he delivered when he burst onto the scene in 2011 nearly dried up as the body of his running mate, Hakeem Nicks, started breaking down. Nicks is now with the Colts and the Giants are left with Rueben Randle and Jerrel Jernigan as their second and third receivers. Anyone afraid of them?
A proven pass-catching tight end is also missing from the roster. In Eli We Trust goes only so far when there’s not enough around him to turn that trust into production.
Starting Thursday, the Giants must use the NFL Draft to fortify what co-owner John Mara called a “broken’’ offense. Perhaps the Giants will continue to rebuild the foundation by using their first-round pick (No. 12 overall) on a lineman. Or maybe they will be enticed by the many top-tier receiver prospects. General manager Jerry Reese never has shown an inclination to take a tight end high in the draft, but he could make an exception for North Carolina’s Eric Ebron.
The Giants have seven picks, but do not have a seventh-round pick, as that was sent to the Panthers in last season’s trade for linebacker Jon Beason. The Giants have two picks in the fifth round, including one compensatory selection. Figure more than half will be used on offensive players.
Perhaps Jake Matthews of Texas A&M will fall and the Giants will land him as their next franchise left tackle. More likely, Matthews and Michigan’s Taylor Lewan will be gone, but Zack Martin of Notre Dame could be there — unless Buffalo grabs him at No. 9. Whatever transpires in the first round, look for the Giants to take an offensive tackle with one of their first three picks.
No one expects towering receiver Mike Evans of Texas A&M to drop to 12, but Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU should be there and so should USC’s Marqise Lee. Beckham is viewed by scouts as a potential No. 1 receiver and he already has caught passes from Manning as a two-time participant at the Manning Passing Academy. Beckham, a 5-foot-11 speedster, attended the same high school in New Orleans as Manning and was a college teammate of Randle’s.
Lee and Beckham both met with the Giants at the NFL scouting combine, but haven’t had any communication with the team since then.
“I don’t know if they’re interested or not,’’ Lee said. “If it happens, it happens. I’m going to be excited. I’m going to be stoked, be ready to go in there and play.”
Another target to consider is Kelvin Benjamin of Florida State, a receiver in the body of a tight end.
The Giants also need to add a running back later in the draft and might take a look at a safety, with Will Hill’s impending suspension cutting into the athletic ability at that spot.
There’s a lack of depth at defensive tackle, and scouts are in love with everything about Aaron Donald from Pittsburgh — except his size. Donald is barely a shade over 6 feet and weighs 285 pounds, raising concerns he may not be able to dominate in the NFL the way he devastated the college game. He is a non-stop performer with impeccable character, and one agent familiar with him on and off the field told The Post Donald is “a Giants player.’’
There are so many ways the Giants can go. Their once-feared pass rush took a nosedive in 2013, and you can never discount a pass-rusher when Reese is making the call. That could lead to Stephon Tuitt, who had 20 ¹/₂ sacks in 28 starts for Notre Dame. He can play tackle or end, and is maybe a bigger version of Justin Tuck. If UCLA sack artist Anthony Barr falls, he also would be tough to pass up. In a year when there’s not much chatter about the Giants taking a linebacker, maybe they finally will take one. C.J. Mosley of Alabama is one of the best available.
Three draft objectives
1. OL overhaul: No position group in 2013 was more depleted and less effective than the woeful offensive line. This draft must continue to refurbish the line with at least one top-notch starter, preferably a tackle.
2. Eli’s options: No longer can the Giants boast an array of talent around their franchise quarterback. Eli Manning needs at least one more game-breaking target at wide receiver or tight end.
3. Get sturdier: The defensive line lost its two top performers in 2013, with Linval Joseph signing with the Vikings and Justin Tuck now with the Raiders. A run-stopping defensive tackle is needed and another pass-rusher is always on the wish list.
Paul’s pick
Zack Martin, OL, Notre Dame: There’s nothing enthralling about picking an offensive lineman, but keeping Eli Manning clean is a priority and this guy can do it. In fact, he can do anything you want along the line — tackle, guard, center, you name it. Not a physical marvel, but about as safe a player as you can draft.