Daniel Jones knows how to navigate difficult conversations with Joe Sean.
There was a chance two years ago: Sean’s first big decision as Giants general manager was to tell Jones the team wouldn’t exercise his fifth-year option. That essentially made the 2022 season a make-or-break scenario, with Jones needing to stay healthy and play well or Sean and head coach Brian Daboll’s new regime scrambling to find a quarterback.
There was one time this offseason, Sean wanted to be honest with Jones, telling him one night that the Giants were going to be actively exploring the quarterback market leading up to the NFL draft. Jones was in the building almost every day rehabbing his right knee, and Sean didn’t want Jones to be looking at prospects Jayden Daniels and Drake May in the hallways and wondering what on earth was going on.
Two years ago, Jones was unhappy about having to play out his rookie contract. He started 16 games for the first time in his career, throwing just five interceptions, passing for 301 yards and two touchdowns while leading the team to its first playoff win in 11 years. After some intense negotiations, Jones’ next conversation with Sean was a pleasant one after the team gave the young quarterback a four-year, $160 million contract.
That money would buy Jones some expensive luxuries, but only two seasons of job security. The Giants were concerned about Jones’ injury history and ultimately didn’t select a quarterback in the draft, but tried to trade up to No. 3, hoping to get either Daniels or Maye, in that order, if they were to make a deal with the Patriots.
“Obviously, I’m not excited,” Jones said Wednesday after the first practice of training camp, reflecting on a conversation he had with Sean a few months ago, “but they’ve got a job to do and I’ve got a job to do, so that’s the way it is. That’s the way it is. I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given and excited to play football. That’s my focus right now. Yeah, it’s not a fun conversation.”
That’s what’s most revealing about Jones: Aaron Rodgers made more headlines in Egypt and the Dark Ladder than Jones has made all season, or even his entire career.
At the very least, all the cards are on the table for all to see on this week’s episode of “Hard Knocks.” There’s no hiding behind “media reports” and “offseason rumors” that the Giants were serious about negotiating with Jones. If the Giants were able to get the deal done, which they would have been, Jones would have been a lame-duck quarterback.
If there was a wound in Jones’ broad shoulders, he wouldn’t admit it, but he wouldn’t deny its existence.
“Well, whatever you want to call that motivation or drive, I just feel like I’ve always been motivated and driven and working as hard as I can. That’s always been my mindset and my approach,” Jones said.
For Jones to stay with the team beyond this season (the Giants can part ways with $22.1 million in dead cap money for 2025), he must first stay on the field. He has worked like hell since having surgery to repair a torn right anterior cruciate ligament on Nov. 22 and, to the surprise of no one, has been given the all-clear by doctors for the start of camp. He took part in every practice with the starting offense on Wednesday.
“Everybody knows how hard-working he is,” left tackle Andrew Thomas said.
This wasn’t the sharpest, crispest passing attack in summer camp history, but it wasn’t shocking on Day 1. Jones threw a short pass to Wan’Dale Robinson, who threw it just out of reach of rookie Malik Neighbors, who dropped it into Neighbors’ hands. Nothing much happened, forcing Jones to either slip out of the pocket and pass on the run or run himself. He had a black sleeve wrapped around his right leg and looked good moving around.
“Physically he was very good. He had great build,” receiver Darius Slayton told the Post. “His arms have always been great. And he’s always had a great mind. I expect great things from him.”
Sean isn’t trying to shy away from the reality he’s created. He won’t deny that this is Jones’s proving year.
“Given the structure of the contract and how the last year has played out, I think that’s a fair valuation,” Sean said.
There is certainly pressure.
“The reason these guys have gotten to this point in their careers is because they’re competitive, they’re self-motivated, they’re driven, and I think Daniel has all of those things,” Sean said. “I think on the team, he has the best ability to block out the noise.”
The noise will grow after every incomplete pass, every three-and-out, every Giants loss. Jones knows it now, because everyone does.
