When Eli Manning reflects on the miserable 2017 season, he thinks of an injury-riddled roster that didn’t give the Giants much chance to win on gameday.

Can you imagine what he is thinking looking at the 2019 Giants as currently constructed?

In a span of a week, the Giants dumped a 25-year-old safety, a 26-year-old wide receiver and a 28-year-old pass-rusher: Landon Collins, Odell Beckham and Olivier Vernon, respectively. All Pro Bowlers. In return, they received guard Kevin Zeitler, safety Jabrill Peppers and two draft picks.

So there is no denying the Giants are rebuilding, no matter how much general manager Dave Gettleman hates the word.

Why would would the Giants want to undergo that long slog back from the very bottom of the NFL talent pool with a 38-year-old quarterback who likely won’t be around beyond 2019? Because he might push a two-win roster to three or four wins by dusting off some of his late-game magic?

And why would Manning want to finish his Hall of Fame-worthy career enduring another lost season of defeats and questions about his job security? His is the untold side of the big picture.

The only sensible answer is for franchise and franchise icon to part ways before Sunday, when Manning is due a $5 million roster bonus that counts for a portion of his $23 million salary cap hit. Another $12 million is his salary and the other $6 million is an already paid signing bonus that can’t come off the books.

After trading Beckham to the Browns for a first-round pick, a third-round pick and safety Jabrill Peppers, the Giants now have the assets to package two first-round picks together and make sure they land the quarterback of their choice in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The only reasonable holdup for the Giants is the rest of their quarterback depth chart: Convincing 52 teammates you are trying to win with either Alex Tanney or Kyle Lauletta at quarterback is a formula for a locker-room implosion.

But free agency only is two days old. The Giants could replace Manning with a stopgap like soon-to-be available Ryan Tannehill of the Dolphins or the well-traveled Tyrod Taylor. Then implement their preferred Kansas City Model, where a veteran quarterback grooms a rookie quarterback.

Of course, there is no need for sympathy. The Giants put themselves in this precarious position by wasting a year grooming Davis Webb (released) and another grooming Kyle Lauletta (written off) as Manning successors, and passing on a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The more likely unreasonable holdup is sentimentality.

The Giants don’t want to release their two-time Super Bowl MVP, especially after seeing the backlash from former players and fans when they benched him in 2017. They much prefer a clean break, which is offered when his contract expires after the season.

Then, if Manning wants to keep playing, it’s his decision to go elsewhere and give up the chance to be the celebrated one-uniform star. Pressure off.

The 2017-18 Giants combined to lose a league-high 24 games.

And the 2019 Giants look worse. Manning or no Manning.

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