David Gettleman had good things to say about Eli Manning, but was non-committal when asked if the New York Giants would draft a quarterback this spring.

"I had an opportunity to watch [Manning's film] because the quarterback is the most important position on the team," Gettleman said. "At the end of the day, it wasn't a mirage. It was not a mirage."

The new GM was referring to the Giants' late-season loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in which Manning threw for 434 yards, the fourth-highest total of his career.

The Giants hold the second overall pick.

"With the second pick, we're going to take the best player available," Gettleman said, adding, "If you take a guy just to take a guy especially at the quarterback position -- and he fails -- you set yourself back five years.

"There are teams in what I call quarterback hell. They got a quality defense, good special teams and they're going 7-9, 8-8, 9-7. ... Now if there is a legitimate [quarterback in the draft], they got to trade up [and] give away the farm to get the guy."