Bill Barnwell explains why Giants draftee and Eli Manning heir apparent Daniel Jones does not project to be an above-average NFL QB. (1:40)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants began preparing for life after Eli Manning by selecting Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick in Thursday's NFL draft in Nashville, Tennessee.

They also selected Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence 17th overall and traded into the bottom of the first round to take Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker at No. 30.

The Giants selected Jones ahead of highly regarded outside linebacker Josh Allen, a move that wasn't particularly well received. Fans at the team's draft party booed. Allen was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the next pick.

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman didn't want to wait until the 17th pick to grab his future franchise quarterback, saying he was afraid Jones would not have been available.

"You never know," Gettleman said. "I was not willing to risk it."

Asked what he'd say to fans who booed the Jones pick, Gettleman said, "In time, you'll be very pleased."

In the meantime, the Giants will have Jones sitting behind Manning, the two-time Super Bowl MVP who is 38 and entering the final year of his contract.

Gettleman called Manning while they were selecting Jones. He reiterated that Manning is expected to remain the starter this season.

"The goal is for Eli to be our quarterback," Gettleman said.

Coach Pat Shurmur added that he told Manning, "It's your job to win games and keep this guy off the field."

It's unclear when the passing of the torch will occur. Despite the significant draft capital spent on Jones, it's hardly a certainty that he will be the quarterback in 2020.

"Absolutely not," Gettleman said. "Maybe we're going to be the Green Bay model, where [Aaron] Rodgers sat for three years. Who knows? It's one of those deals where it doesn't make a difference what position it is. You can never have too many good players at one position."

When asked if it is possible that the No. 6 overall pick might sit for three years, Gettleman didn't budge.

"Who knows?" he said. "I might go out to my car and get hit. ... You don't know. We drafted a quarterback that we believe is a franchise quarterback."