At this point, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman is just flying by the seat of his pants.

The Giants are committing $23 million against the cap in 2019 to a 38-year-old Eli Manning for what amounts to a farewell tour, all the while allowing a young, Pro Bowl safety in Landon Collins to potentially walk out of the building.

That’s absurd, right?

Cutting Manning would create $17 million in cap space, plenty of flexibility to accommodate the $11.2 million franchise tag for Collins this season or fit his cap number under a long-term deal.

Apparently, though, the Giants do not intend to use the franchise tag on Collins prior to Tuesday’s deadline, which will likely lead to him becoming a free agent later this month.

Gettleman has a history of undervaluing the safety position and has never chosen a safety in the first three picks of any NFL Draft. However, staying committed to Manning, even for one more year, while citing cap space concerns over tagging Collins is laughable.

Just last week in Indianapolis during the NFL Combine, Gettleman admitted that Manning is not the Giants’ future.

“You can cite a number of models where they had a veteran guy and they drafted a young guy," Gettleman said. "At some point in time, the torch got passed and away everyone went. And it was a happy away, everyone went.”

If the only purpose of keeping Manning around is to help mentor a rookie -- potentially chosen in the top 10 of April’s NFL Draft -- who could replace Manning before the season ends, this is roster-building malfeasance.

There will be cheaper veteran quarterbacks than Manning available in free agency, including Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum, or maybe even Ryan Tannehill. Heck, the Giants could even go all in and sign Nick Foles out from underneath the Jacksonville Jaguars, and really give this team as it’s currently constructed a chance to compete for the postseason while waiting for a rookie (or someone like Josh Rosen) to take the reigns.

But, no, the Giants still will trot Manning out there Week 1. As a result, Collins will change uniforms and compete for a Super Bowl with an actual winner like the Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, or San Francisco 49ers for what will most likely cost approximately $10 million less than what the Giants will pay Manning as one final thank you for the pair of Super Bowls he delivered seven and 12 years ago, respectively.

Even with an offense that included wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Evan Engram, Manning was still only 17th in the NFL in touchdowns, 15th in interceptions, 14th in passing yards per game and was graded as Pro Football Focus’ 28th-best quarterback last season. Yet, his salary remains 10th-highest in the NFL and he will count more against the salary cap than even Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, Panthers’ Cam Newton, Chargers’ Phillip Rivers and Falcons’ Matt Ryan, to name a few.

How does any of this make any sense? Spoiler: It doesn’t.

If Manning hit the open market when the new league-year begins on March 12, would any other team even offer him a starting job? Maybe down I-95 in Washington?

Meanwhile, Collins is bound to nip at Earl Thomas’ heels for the most lucrative contract ever awarded to a safety if he makes it to free agency.

Simply: the Giants are not going to win a Super Bowl with Manning this season.

Likewise, Manning’s Giants’ tenure has a built-in expiration date, while Collins still has his best football ahead of him.

If Collins walks out the door, that is one fewer playmaker on a defense that needs to add at least one edge rusher, one cornerback, and one safety to be in a position to compete for the playoffs in 2020 and beyond.

Gettleman will once again spin a tale that the Giants could not afford Collins because the $11.2 million franchise tag would eat too big a pice of the cap space pie.

Remember: Gettleman could have moved on from Manning and kept Collins.

Instead, they won’t out of fear of dishonoring a player who last won a Super Bowl for them eight years ago.

Now that is absurd.

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoNFL