Giants GM Takes Heat After Viral Comments on Daniel Jones in 'Hard Knocks'

The New York Giants enter the 2024 season with question marks from top to bottom. After Saquon Barkley's exit, the offense will look much different. And the pressure is on for starting quarterback Daniel Jones to get on the right track.

During the first episode of "Hard Knocks," which debuted on Tuesday, Giants general manager Joe Schoen gave a lot of comments about Jones. He made sure to mention how injured the offensive line has been lately while also discussing Jones' play, and some of his words are worth paying special attention to.

"This is the year for Daniel. Plan all along was [to] give him a couple years," Schoen said. "Is he our guy for the next 10 years? Or do we need to pivot and find somebody else?"

Well, fans made sure to take note of Schoen's comments. And they are not pleased with the GM's words, especially after the way Jones has played the past few years.

"Should have paid Jones a 1yr/$25 mil ‘prove it’ deal…. But no….we have 20 percent of the cap tied up in a player we still don’t know that can perform consistently at the NFL level and let our best player on offense walk…" -- EJ Deveau said on X.

"He was supposed to do that last season. Not we are going into year 6 with the same problem. Good GM’s get rid of the qb with no future" another user said on X. Another mentioned, "He’s had 7 years to show if he’s the “guy."

Fans are running out of patience with Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, especially after he signed a bonkers contract worth $160 million.

As a result, fans are also suggesting this scene was just done for the cameras.

Schoen explained the offensive line issues , giving Jones somewhat of a break in a sense (h/t Eric Edholm of NFL.com).

"The reality is -- facts -- [that Jones has had] three serious injuries in two years," Schoen said. "We need to protect ourselves. He didn't have much of a chance this year. That's legit. Like your offseason, your core guys that were gonna play together played less than 60 snaps together. ... You could have Pat Mahomes, and he can't f------ win behind that. I'm not giving up on [Jones]. He's under contract for three more years. Just protecting ourselves, because [the] best predictor of the future is the past."

While Schoen said he isn't giving up, he also said this is "the year" for Jones.

If things don't work out for Jones this year, it could mean the end of his time with the Giants. It could also mean the end of Schoen's tenure as the general manager. Paying $160 million to a quarterback who has struggled to start his NFL career has Schoen under the microscope.

And judging by the first episode of "Hard Knocks," he's well aware of that.