Shaun O’Hara snapped the ball to Eli Manning for seven seasons, including in Super Bowl XLII, and they remain close friends.

So, it’s not a surprise to hear the respected NFL Network analyst take the side the Giants do not need to draft a quarterback with the No. 6 pick in 2019.

Manning wants to keep starting in the final year of his contract, and O’Hara has been critical of the Giants for wasting Manning’s prime years by not surrounding himself with enough help, especially on the offensive line.

But O’Hara isn’t suggesting the Giants pass on Dwayne Haskins and Kyler Murray for offensive tackle Jonah Williams or another top blocking prospect.

“When I think about the New York Giants ... the one thing that jumps out at you is great pass-rushers,” O’Hara said on Good Morning Football. “Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul). The Giants really haven’t had a great pass-rusher for the last couple years, somebody who is just going to dominate and take over the game."

The top of the draft is heavy on high-potential pass rushers such as Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, Michigan’s Rashan Gary, Kentucky’s Josh Allen, Houston’s Ed Oliver, Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell and more.

“Defense, I think, is on their mind,” O’Hara said. “I know everybody outside the building is looking at quarterbacks.

“When you are sitting there with the No. 6 pick as the general manager, you can’t look at it and say, ‘We’re going to take a quarterback because everyone thinks we should take one and Eli may only have one or two years left.'”

NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt and Peter Schrager challenged O’Hara that it is time to replace Manning in a spirited debate. You can watch the clip below.

Could the Giants really pass on a QB in the top 10... again? @ShaunOHara60 says they should. @PSchrags and @KyleBrandt try figuring that one out. pic.twitter.com/6RhSU9Vul4 — GMFB (@gmfb) February 15, 2019

The Giants passed on first-rounders Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson last season and all were starters as rookies. O’Hara is not convinced Murray and Haskins are better than those four.

The compromise would be draft a first-round quarterback for the future who sits behind Manning in 2019, but it is unknown if Manning would be OK with mentoring his successor. When Manning was a rookie, Kerry Collins did not want that job but Kurt Warner took it.

“I think (pass-rusher) makes them a better team,” O’Hara said. “Two things that jump out at me from the two teams that played in the Super Bowl. They could do two things: They could protect the quarterback ... and they could get after the quarterback.”

When is the right time to move on from Manning?

“Is Eli physically deteriorating? If that answer is yes, you have to move on,” O’Hara said. “He has not missed a game his entire career. Guess why Joe Flacco is in Denver? Because he got hurt (with the Ravens). It’s not about ability. It’s about availability.”

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.