I have seen the Giants’ next franchise quarterback play more than 100 games, and I’m telling you, those fans who were booing during the NFL Draft are going to love this guy. He is a natural leader and a proven winner, a durable pocket passer who might commit the (ahem) occasional turnover but knows how to deliver in the big moment.

Giants fans: Meet Eli Manning!

What? You thought the Giants drafted his replacement on Thursday night? Well, I also thought that was the plan when general manager Dave Gettleman used the sixth overall pick on Duke quarterback Daniel Jones in a stunning move.

Then I listened to the GM’s press conference. He made it clear that Jones, despite coming off the board at a pick when teams almost always expect to find a player who makes an immediate impact, won’t be expected to play right away.

“Maybe we’re going to be the Green Bay model, where (Aaron) Rodgers sat for three years. Who knows?” Gettleman told a room of incredulous reporters as the clock approached midnight. “You can never have too many good players at one position.”

Three years. Three!

So Manning will head into training camp as the undisputed starter, once again, and the idea that the team extends his contract, unthinkable a few months ago given the team’s struggles, is very much on the table.

But that’s not what struck me incomprehensible about Gettleman’s comments. This is: Why decide that Jones is likely going to “redshirt” behind the 38-year-old Manning before the rookie even takes one practice snap as a professional?

If Gettleman really believes that Jones is the next franchise quarterback for this team -- and he must to take him with the sixth overall pick -- then why not head into the summer with an open competition for the job?

The Cardinals took Kyler Murray with the top pick, and the expectation is that he’s going to step into the starting job immediately. The Giants took Jones just five picks later, and fans are expected to understand that they won’t see him for a year or more? That’s crazy.

If Jones is good enough to get picked at No. 6, he should be good enough to compete with Manning for the starting job right away. That won’t happen for two reasons: 1. The Giants are scared to death of disrespecting the two-time Super Bowl MVP and 2. They know Jones isn’t ready to play right away in the NFL.

And if Jones isn’t ready to play right away in the NFL ... why the heck are you drafting him with the sixth overall pick?

The Redskins took Ohio State star Dwayne Haskins with the 15th pick. After that decision was official, Washington head coach Jay Gruden said that Haskins would compete for the starting job because, well, that’s what you do when you think a quarterback is worth a pick that high.

The Giants don’t agree. That’s troubling.

Let’s throw out this hypothetical: What if Gettleman is right about Jones and it is clear in training camp that the rookie is quarterback of the future? Are the Giants willing to bench Manning for the better player? They would at any other position, with any other player, but they’ve already made it clear that Jones isn’t supposed to win this job on merit.

Four quarterbacks were picked in the top 10 of the 2018 draft, and all four started at least 13 games for their new team as a rookie. The Giants passed on three of them and, on draft night, told their fan base that the “future” from this draft might not see the field for years.

Maybe Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur will change that narrative in a hurry based on how Jones performs when he gets to East Rutherford. Or maybe they sent a clear message about who really is this franchise’s quarterback of the future.

Chances are, Giants fans have already seen him play.

Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook.