Jones Named Giants' X-Factor for 2024

The New York Giants will attempt to answer several questions about the team’s long-term future over the course of the 2024 season. Chief among them will be whether quarterback Daniel Jones is fit to lead the franchise into the future.

Entering Year 6, things are looking fairly grim. Jones fell flat after his playoff victory in 2022, and after tearing his ACL in Week 9 of last season, he struggled in his return to game action – a 28-10 loss to the Houston Texans.

However, New York has already fallen victim to an evaluation clouded by other holes on the roster. What could Jones be with a new play-caller, a new receiver, a new offensive line?

The Giants can’t promise perfection from their offseason additions. But multiple new linemen will start in front of him and receiver Malik Nabers is a rookie phenom waiting to explode on the boundary. Head coach Brian Daboll is taking over play-calling duties, too. There are no more excuses.

For better or worse, this season will be a referendum on Jones’ standing as a starting quarterback. As such, he was named the team’s X-factor by Bleacher Report .

“If New York is going to rebound in 2024, it needs Jones healthy and playing at a high level,” Kristopher Knox wrote. “Just as importantly, the Giants need to figure out if Jones can actually be their long-term answer at quarterback.”

New York has the ability to get out of Jones’ deal (four years, $160 million) two years early if it pivots after the season. Given how intensely the team looked into quarterbacks this past offseason, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Although, it’s worth noting that early looks at the 2022 quarterback class haven’t been particularly favorable.

“The Giants need Jones to be great, but he was good enough two years ago,” Knox wrote. “If he can't at least be that, New York will be searching for a new signal-caller in 2025.”

Related: New York Giants QB Daniel Jones Confirms Health After Return to Preseason Action

New York’s external expectations are muted, in large part because of Jones’ struggles not just last year, but in the three seasons prior to his breakout campaign, too. But there’s no quicker way – as the Giants learned – to outpace expectations than to have a quarterback play better than anticipated.

The work is cut out for Jones. It’s on him to prove that the magic of 2022 can be found in this new-look offense.