INDIANAPOLIS -- Many factors will dictate whether the New York Giants use the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback. Second-year quarterback Davis Webb and Eli Manning are among them.

Webb is the third-round enigma from last year who didn't play a single snap his rookie season. He impressed off the field and with his work ethic, but nobody really knows how he can handle the responsibilities of starting (or playing) in the NFL.

Even the Giants aren't quite sure what they have. It hasn't stopped them from trying to find out as they admittedly factor everything (Webb, Manning, their age and experience) into the equation. They've dug back into the past and canvassed their own building to find out some tidbits about their young quarterback.

"I like what I've seen in Davis Webb," new coach Pat Shurmur said. "I went back and watched his tape again from college just to get reacquainted with him. I liked what I saw on tape when he played. I had a chance to watch his practice tape, which has been terrific. We just don't have a large sample size of Davis Webb playing NFL football, but I'm excited about what he brings to the table."

Webb has spent this offseason working out alongside Manning at the team's facility. It's mostly weight-room work because the rules prohibit them from taking the field and working with coaches. They can't get their hands on the playbook either.

Still, the Giants find it encouraging. It's an extension of what they already knew.

Shurmur and new general manager Dave Gettleman say they liked Webb in last year's draft. Shurmur was then the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator and Gettleman was running the Carolina Panthers.

"We liked him a great deal. We thought he was a winner," Shurmur said. "We liked his size, we liked his arm strength, we liked his decision-making. He could move around in the pocket. I could see why the Giants drafted him a year ago, because we liked him as well."

How much does that mean at this point? The plan is for the Giants to study quarterbacks closely entering this year's draft. They will meet with and dissect all the top prospects at this year's NFL combine. After the speed dating session, they will use their visits and private workouts to complete the picture.

Gettleman agreed it was a good assumption to think they would spend time comparing the draft's top quarterbacks with Webb because they're on a fairly similar NFL experience level.

"As Pat said, there is only so much to watch. [Webb] has not had a lot of NFL experience," Gettleman said. "We liked him down in Carolina in the draft. He is pretty highly rated. It is kind of like having a Christmas or a Hanukkah present that you get to unwrap eventually."

Manning also can't be discounted from the equation, despite his age. He will be 38 before the end of this season.

Shurmur said Manning has "years left as a starting quarterback in this league." The Giants are firmly committed to him for at least this season, and perhaps beyond.

Gettleman mentioned Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers having success at 38 years old last season. He brought up Tom Brady and Drew Brees and the way Manning appears primed for a similar late-career surge.

"Eli takes great care of himself," Gettleman said.

Manning is not being discounted when the Giants are making plans for the present and future. Neither is Webb.

Unless the Giants are blown away by one of the draft's top quarterbacks, a group Gettleman called "interesting," they might not pull the trigger. They might stick with what they have on the roster.

They're wary of missing on such a high pick.

"If he's the right guy, if you think that guy can be a franchise quarterback like Eli has been and still is as far as I'm concerned, then you do it," Gettleman said. "But let me tell you something, you make a mistake on a quarterback, especially this high in the first round, it will set you back five years. It kills you. You have to be right."

The Giants are looking for what they described as a franchise-changing player at No. 2 overall. Quarterback is just one of the options, but not the only option.

"We're looking forward, moving forward with Eli, but certainly with the second pick in the draft, we want to draft a player worthy of that pick," Shurmur said. "I think we've talked about it before, but the last time the Giants had the second pick in the draft, they picked Lawrence Taylor. The last time they had the third pick in the draft, they picked Carl Banks and those were two franchise-changing players.

"So I think we have to keep an open mind on this, and we certainly want to make our team better and I think that's the approach that we're taking."

Keeping Webb and Manning in mind along the way.