The Giants pressure is on Daniel Jones — and everyone knows it

Daniel Jones knows his way around tough conversations with Joe Schoen.

They had one two years ago, as Schoen’s first big decision as general manager of the Giants was to inform Jones that the team would not be picking up his fifth-year option. Essentially, this turned the 2022 season into a make-or-break scenario, with Jones needing to stay healthy and play well or else the new regime of Schoen and coach Brian Daboll would go quarterback shopping.

They had one this offseason, when Schoen wanted to be straight with Jones, telling him one evening the Giants were going to be diligent about exploring the quarterback market leading into the NFL draft. Jones was in the building almost every day, rehabbing his right knee, and Schoen did not want Jones to see top prospects Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye in the hallways and wonder what the heck was going on.

Two years ago, Jones was not happy about having to play out his rookie contract. He responded by starting 16 games for the first time in his career, throwing only five interceptions and amassing 301 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in the first playoff victory for the franchise in 11 years. The next conversation Jones had with Schoen, after some intense negotiations, was a pleasant one after the team awarded the still-young quarterback with a four-year deal worth $160 million.

That money could buy Jones expensive luxuries but bought him only two seasons, as far as job security. The Giants, concerned about Jones’ injury history, ended up not selecting a quarterback in the draft but they did attempt to trade up to No. 3 and wanted Daniels or Maye, in that order, if they would swing a deal with the Patriots.

“Obviously it’s not, you know, you’re not excited about it,’’ Jones said Wednesday after the first practice of training camp, thinking back on his talk with Schoen a few months ago. “But they have a job to do, I have a job to do so it is what it is. We’re at this point now. Grateful for the opportunity I have and excited to play football, that’s kind of my focus now. Yeah, it’s not a fun conversation.’’

This is about as revealing as it gets with Jones. Aaron Rodgers makes more news from Egypt or on a darkness retreat than Jones generates over the course of a season. Or career, to this point.

At least the cards are all laid out on the table now, out there, for all to see on “Hard Knocks’’ this week. No one can hide behind “media reports’’ or “offseason chatter’’ about the Giants thinking seriously about moving on from Jones. If they would have been able to do it, it would have happened and Jones would be a lame-duck quarterback.

If there is a chip on Jones’ broad shoulders, he will not admit to it, although he did not deny that one exists.

“Yeah, I think however you want to call the motivation or the drive, I’ve always felt like I’m motivated and driven and work harder than — work as hard as I possibly can, that’s always been my mindset and my approach,’’ Jones said.

For Jones to remain after this season — the Giants can part ways with him at the cost of a manageable $22.1 million in dead cap money in 2025 — he has to, first and foremost, stay on the field. He worked like a demon following Nov. 22 surgery to repair a torn right ACL and, to the surprise of no one, was given full medical clearance for the start of this camp. He took every rep with the starting offense Wednesday.

“Everyone knows his work ethic is crazy,’’ left tackle Andrew Thomas said.

This was not the sharpest or crispest passing attack in the history of summer camps, which comes as no great shock on Day 1. Jones tossed some short stuff to Wan’Dale Robinson, sailed a throw over the reach of rookie Malik Nabers, dropped a pass into Nabers’ hands, which was dropped. Often, there was nothing happening and Jones was forced to escape the pocket and throw on the run or else run it himself. He wore a black sleeve on his right leg and looked fine moving around.

“Looked great physically, his body looked physically great,’’ receiver Darius Slayton told The Post. “His arm’s always been great. And he’s always had it in-between the ears. I expect great things out of him.’’

Schoen, to his credit, does not hide from the reality he created. He does not deny that this is a prove-it year for Jones.

“The way the contract is structured and the way last year went, I think that’s a fair assessment,’’ Schoen said.

The pressure is on, for sure.

“These guys have gotten where they’ve gotten in their careers because they’re competitive, they’re self-motivated, they’re driven and I think Daniel is all of those things,’’ Schoen said. “Of all the guys on the team he probably does the best job of tuning out the noise.’’

The noise will grow with every incomplete pass, three-and-out or Giants loss. Jones knows the deal now, because everyone does.