Eli Manning is on the clock.

The Giants pulled off a stunning third-round selection Friday night, taking quarterback Davis Webb from California with the 87th overall pick in the NFL draft.

All along, the Giants were not hiding their desire to find a young quarterback to groom while Manning, 36, continues to start. But the situation had to be just right and the Giants obviously thought that time was late in the third round, with Webb still on the board.

“We hope Eli continues to play at a high level and [Webb] can develop,’’ general manager Jerry Reese said.

Reese started the ball rolling following the 2016 season, when he admitted Manning is “on the back nine’’ of his career. Coach Ben McAdoo stated his desire to find a young quarterback to mold and just like that, Webb is aboard, joining Geno Smith and Josh Johnson on the roster, for now.

Webb is a big guy (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) with a big arm. He started his college career at Texas Tech and finished it at Cal, where in 2016 he threw 37 touchdown passes.

“We thought he had the best arm in the draft this year, gifted arm,’’ Reese said.

Four years ago, Reese drafted Ryan Nassib in the fourth round and famously stated, “I hope he never plays.’’ Reese did not make that statement this time around, but he knows Webb is not going to have to play any time soon.

“Let me get this straight guys,’’ Reese said. “We hope Eli plays for a long time. Eli is our quarterback. We do know he’s not going to play forever.’’

There’s no rush for Webb to see the field, according to Reese.

“Obviously we’d like him to have two years to be the caddie,’’ he said.

Draft profiles

Dalvin Tomlinson

School: Alabama

Position: DT

Picked: Round 2, 55th overall

Height: 6-3 Weight: 310

What he offers: Big, powerful fifth-year senior was a one-year starter for the Crimson Tide and wowed the Giants with his honesty and smarts at his combine interview. Had to endure two ACL surgeries and death of both his parents. Had just five career sacks in college, but Giants feel he has pass-rush ability. Should slip right in as a starter, replacing Johnathan Hankins, who signed with the Colts.

Davis Webb

School: California

Position: QB

Picked: Third round, 87th overall

Height: 6-5 Weight: 230

What he offers: The future. Eli Manning is 36 and the Giants did not want to be left without a replacement. Webb is a big-armed passer who started at Texas Tech before Patrick Mahomes beat him out. In one year at Cal, Webb threw for 4,295 yards and 37 TDs. Son of a coach and serious about the craft. Not a high-end athlete. Compared by some to Joe Flacco. Needs time to develop and will get it watching and learning from Manning.

What’s next

What to look for from the Giants on Day 3 (Rounds 4 through 7) of the draft: Will the Giants ever take an offensive lineman? Clearly, the Giants were not enamored of the linemen in this draft, as they stood by and watched two of them come off the board early in the second round. Cam Robinson of Alabama went second in the round, 34th overall, to the Jaguars — thank you very much, Tom Coughlin. Forrest Lamp, considered the best interior offensive lineman in the entire field, went 38th overall to the Chargers.