Eli Manning

Quarterback Eli Manning (10) is entering the final year of his current deal.

(Amanda Marzullo | NJ Advance Media)

This is the offseason of truth for the Giants, Chargers and Steelers. They have a decision on their hands that could dictate the success of their organizations for the next five years.

The quarterback Class of 2004 ‐ Eli Manning (Giants), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) and Philip Rivers (Chargers) ‐ are entering the final season of their current contracts. Each team must decide if they're willing to commit another three to five years to their franchise quarterbacks.

Normally, with players as accomplished as that trio (four combined Super Bowls, 11 Pro Bowls) it would be a no-brainer. You would secure their services for the future to prevent them from playing on the final year of their deal.

But it's not that simple at this point of their careers. Manning is already 34. Rivers is 33 and Roethlisberger will be 33 before the start of the season. With the price tag expected to be in the $20 million per year range for each, and the deals projected in the three to five-year range, it becomes a lot trickier.

The Steelers have begun preliminary talks with Roethlisberger and The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review threw out theses potential contract numbers: five years and $100 million.

The Chargers "definitely" plan on addressing Rivers' contract and CBS Sports' salary cap expert (and former NFL agent) Joel Corry threw out those numbers at four years with an average of $20 million per season.

The Giants have been more non-committal about Manning. They have yet to show their cards and, as of last week, had not had any discussions with Manning's representatives about a new deal.

"We will keep all of our options open," is all general manager Jerry Reese would say at his end of the year press conference.

The Giants situation may be the trickiest of all. Manning is the oldest of the three, and his team has now gone three straight years without qualifying for the playoffs. If the Giants miss the postseason again and decide to move on from Tom Coughlin, do they saddle their next coach with a quarterback at ages 35-37 that hasn't led his team to the playoffs in four straight seasons? It's not that Manning can't play, it's more a question of whether he is a quarterback you're committed to rebuilding with if things go awry.

"Eli Manning is not a baby, I don't think he is an old man, but he is not a baby anymore," Reese said. "I do think he can still play at a high level. For how long? Who knows how long?"

And at $20 million per season in a deal that includes significant guarantees beyond the first year (as Manning's agent Tom Condon likes to negotiate), it's not an easy choice. Starting over at quarterback when there is a quality option on the roster is a bold move, one the Giants aren't willing to make right now. Next year, who knows.

Manning is set to make $17.5 million and count close to $20 million against the salary cap in the final year of his current contract. Asking him to take less money with two Super Bowls in his pocket and coming off one of the best statistical years of his career would be difficult.

"Do you really think he's going to take a paycut from that deal, even though fans may think he should?" Corry said late last season. "That is going to be the problem."

It may be up to Manning himself to take control of the situation, much like his brother Peyton did when he signed with the Broncos. Because if the going rate for a quarterback of Eli Manning's ilk is 3-5 years at an average of $20 million per season, that's a tough deal for the Giants to do, no matter what the past dictates.

Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.