Daniel Jones discusses playing for Giants career, almost being replaced

Quarterback Daniel Jones entered the 2022 NFL season playing for his New York Giants future after a regime that didn't draft him back in 2019 declined the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract.

Jones faces a similar situation this summer after current Giants general manager Joe Schoen explored acquiring a signal-caller via this year's NFL Draft , but the 27-year-old suggested during a Tuesday appearance on New York sports radio station WFAN that such uncertainty is simply a way of life in the league.

"I think you’re always trying to prove yourself," Jones explained, as Ryan Chichester of Audacy shared. "I think even after the playoff season in 2022, you get the contract, and a lot of people have things to say about the contract. I think you’re still trying to prove yourself. You’re always trying to prove yourself. I think that’s kind of the nature of the NFL in a lot of ways. My preparation and how I view the season and getting ready for it...it’s always of the mindset that I’m trying to prove myself."

Jones previously acknowledged that he was "not excited" to learn that Schoen wanted to move up from the sixth pick of this year's draft with North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye in mind. The New England Patriots ultimately stayed at choice No. 3 to take Maye, and Schoen later grabbed LSU Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers at No. 6.

"You don’t feel great about it," Jones said regarding the pre-draft reports on Tuesday. "It’s not something you want to watch or are excited to see. But it’s part of the business of the NFL. I understand that. It’s my job to focus on what I’m doing and to lock in and be ready to go play the best football I can. I wasn’t happy about it, but it’s part of it, and I understand that."

Schoen can escape Jones' deal next offseason, and head coach Brian Daboll may sit the veteran at any point this fall to ensure the club can go in a different direction come March 2025. In short, Jones must show during the upcoming season that he has the goods to guide New York back to the playoffs and that he can remain healthy for more than a handful of games.

He's coming off a torn ACL he suffered last November, and he's also dealt with two worrisome neck injuries since 2021.

"I get more questions about the negative and how I handle that...but there’s been a lot of support and people have had my back," Jones insisted during the "Boomer and Gio" show segment. "I appreciate that. To me, that’s more motivating and more inspiring than proving people wrong, is proving those people right."

The last time Jones entered a "prove-it" season, he enjoyed the best campaign of his pro career and notched an impressive road playoff victory in January 2023. Failing to at least keep the Giants in postseason conversations through Christmas would probably cost Jones his spot with the organization this time around.