Giants GM puts pressure on QB Daniel Jones ahead of make-or-break year

The Giants could have moved on from seven-year quarterback Daniel Jones this offseason with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Instead, New York opted to draft wide receiver Malik Nabers, giving Jones, who has underwhelmed since beginning his NFL career as the sixth overall pick in 2019, a vote of confidence.

However, general manager Joe Schoen said on the first episode of "Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants" that Jones still has much to prove this season.

"You're paying the guy $40 million," Schoen said via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "It's not to hand the ball off to a $12 million back."

The Giants gave Jones a four-year, $160 million contract last offseason after he threw for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions, rushed for 708 yards and seven touchdowns, and led his team to a postseason win in 2022.

Jones' 2023 campaign was cut short after tearing his ACL in Week 8. Schoen revealed that it was always the plan to give him more time to prove himself as New York's franchise quarterback.

"This is the year for Daniel," Schoen added. "The plan all along was to give him a couple years. Is he our guy for the next 10 years? Or do we need to pivot and go find someone else?"

As long as Jones is healthy, which all signs point that he will be after rehabbing his injury all offseason, it seems he'll be given every opportunity to make his case.

Schoen believes New York's bolstered offensive line will also play a big factor in determining if Jones is its quarterback of the future.

"He didn't have much of a chance this year," Schoen stated . "That's legit. The core guys that were gonna play together played 60 snaps together. Miami, we got three f—ing practice squad guys playing for us. You could have Pat Mahomes, he can't f—ing win behind that."

It remains debatable whether Jones answers the call, but if he doesn't, the Giants will be back at square one next offseason.